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The European Commission has approved use of mobile WiMAX (802.16e-2005) in the 3.4-3.8 GHz radio spectrum in Europe.

By january 2012, state members will have to open up their spectrum for fixed, nomadic and mobile usage in these frequencies.

Most european countries limited usage to only fixed and nomadic services. Nevertheless, a few were already opening up to mobility.

Last year, the World Radio Conference (WRC) integrated the 3.4-3.6 GHz band into IMT’s definition of “4G”.

http://www.wimaxday.net/site/2008/05/28/wimax-spectrum-given-mobility-status-in-europe/

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The french group Robin des Toits (Robin “Roof”) have created an electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) network. EHS is a health issue concerning the radio spectrums occupied by mobile phones, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, …

Robin des Toits wants to gather scientific knowledge validated by independant sources, inform themselves about the state of administrative recognition, check medical ressources and prepare a legal text on creating a “electromagnetic-free” zone to make life easier for those concerned by EHS.

via HNS

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Since the beginning of december, Paris’ Hygiene and Security Commitee has advised to turn off Wi-Fi access in the capital’s public libraries.

The SUPAP-FSU union, Priartem and “Agir pour l’environnement” wanted a moratorium on the development of Wi-Fi in Paris’ libraries and museums after observing health conditions, considering the wireless frequencies in use to have “genotoxic” effects.

Many library clerks where Wi-Fi access points were installed this summer (the “Paris Ville Numerique” - Paris, digital town - plan was launched then) get different symptoms like headaches, sore eyes or muscles, dizziness or vertigo.

Between october and november, the mayor decided to unplug the hotspots in the six libraries where the clerks had the symptoms. Since then, some say all is back to normal, others don’t see any change. Could their symptoms be due to some other circumstances ?

The Ecology and Health ministrys have asked the Afsset (french health agency) to evaluate the danger of Wi-Fi, without knowing the date the report will be finished.

Paris Ville Numerique, aka Parvi, with it’s 420 hotspots around the capital, will however not be given up.

via Bibliothèques en Lutte

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“NORDLICHT BLITZ PLAY” (Blitz Play Hero III) is a new urban game where you must walk around the town where Wi-Fi access points are scattered. The game was invented by Ludic-Society, a community of artists from Bergen (Norway).

Each player carries a Nintendo DS in scan mode that emits sound when approaching an access point. A belt holding christmas trees with LEDs will also flash near a wireless signal.

Warchalking is back … with a little RFID in it.

via MakeZine

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((o))

Don’t forget this new sign which will probably be used by the wireless community to inform users of the presence of a free Wi-Fi network. Swiss UPA thinks this new smiley could be useful to indicate that a free wireless network is available to connect to the web without needing to go through registration or other long steps imposed by operators or captcha forms.

The ((o)) sign, placed at the front of the Wi-Fi network’s SSID (i.e. ((o)) WiFiAccess) will cut the frustration felt by users wanting a quick and effective access to the web.

An interesting initiative from Swiss UPA.

via Presse Text

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Wireless Africa published at the end of october a guide to install a rural network based on the mesh technology.

This guide helps to planify and create a wireless mesh network based on Freifunk, well known in the wireless community for its performances and its many qualities tested in real life. Freifunk is being used in different countries around the world : Berlin (Germany), Dharamsala (India), Peebles Valley (South Africa), Vaour (France), …

Wi-Fi is very helpful when the telecom infrastructure is inexistant, just like in Africa most of the time.

Version 0.7_65 covers different topics, such as the equipment and software necessary, services used on the network, planning and installation, …

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Wi-LAN (Ottawa, Canada), founded in 1992, has filed an infringement suit against 22 companies - including Acer, Apple, Atheros, Belkin, Best Buy, Broadcom, Buffalo, Dell, D-Link, HP, Intel, Lenovo, Marvell, Netgear, Sony, Texas Instruments and Toshiba - that make or sell Wi-Fi products. The 280 patents canadian company filed a suit 3 years ago against Cisco, and has since found a financial arrangement.

Wi-LAN was known to have worked on the early versions of Wi-Fi, but must not have had enough commercial success. Also active in other technologies like WiMAX and ADSL, Wi-LAN seems to be concentrating on its many patents. Wi-LAN could be preparing another lot of infringement suits against WiMAX players.

Marshall’s court (Texas, USA) is known to be pretty kind with patent holders. This is where Wi-LAN is filing the 22 companies. Reuters believes that Wi-LAN had arranged a financial deal with Toshiba in July concerning it’s patents.

Most astonishing is that Buy and Circuit City, resellers, have been filed. Is Wi-LAN just looking for deep-pocket companies ? I wonder …

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ZDNet Australia informs us that Sydney’s government has chosen Unwired to blanket the CBD with Wi-Fi.

15 companies were interested by the project when it was discussed at the beginning of the year. Unwired’s contract will start with a test deployment. The business development manager Richard Vowles did not want to give any details about the up and running timeframe.

via ZDNet Australie

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Saxnet will be soon commercializing it’s new mesh router based on a Debian : the Meshnode III.

The german company has created a system integrating four 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi modules. The E.I.R.P. for each module is 600 mW maximum.

The Meshnode works in temperatures ranging from -40 to +70 degrees Celsius.

WEP, WPA and WPA2 are supported. The product will be available in january 2008 for around $1,152 with the 4 modules.

Mesh networks continue their growth. OLPC, the cheap computers for emerging countries, integrates a draft version of the 802.11s (IEEE standard for mesh networking) to repeate wireless signals. Meraki sells small routers which extend networks using mesh techniques.

via Linux Devices

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Cisco, the number one network equipment maker in the world, is to acquire Navini Networks and enter the WiMAX market.

The operation, costing $330 million in cash and shares, will be finalized at the beginning of 2008.

After joining the 3G technologies, WiMAX confirms it’s credibility.

Other active WiMAX companies include Airspan, Alcatel-Lucent, Alvarion or Motorola.

via Cisco’s corporate blog

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