nhanson
09-01-2008, 05:19 AM
Calgarian building his own Cellular Network
Poor Economy does not stop Calgarian from building his own Cellular Network
CTE Wireless News
Friday, March 06, 2009
Calgary-based WestNet Wireless has announced that it is setting up its own cellular network, and plans designed for small companies and individuals. WestNet also was the first to launch a wide area Wi-Fi network in downtown Calgary.
WestNet Wireless, a Calgary telecommunications company that traces its roots to the dot-com era of the 90's, is aggressively building it's own CDMA network. The Canadian Wireless Industry has not seen such a innovative cellular company start up almost out of no where. The private funded company, which reportedly picks and chooses investors, says it's budget pricing plan and unlimited North America calling pricing plan are unheard of. Considered by many to be the Wal-Mart of cell phone pricing, WestNets' business model it self is what is causing all the interest.
The man behind the show is Calgarian Abdul Traya. Traya, 26, who started WestNet in 1996, says Industry Canada must lower the costs of frequency rights, allow wireless start ups to purchase frequency rights at much lower costs instead of bidding with multi-billion dollar companies. Abdul, who hopes one day to have WestNet operating as a fully operational CDMA carrier in the Calgary area, says Canadians pay more for mobile internet and cellular use then many third world countries. He describes these costs as “phenomenal.”
"My cellular and wireless internet plan is practical and simple, a cellular provider to offer unlimited North America calling plans, third generation (3G) EV-DO mobile internet, and an open network, meaning subscribers may use their own equipment, something the competitors do not allow, instead charging hundreds of dollars for their branded equipment. We are not even charing that 'System Access fee' the others charge ” Says Traya.
Traya’s open network policy is a step in the right direction. Recently U.S.-based Verizon Wireless announced it will do just that. The subscriber’s phone meets a minimum requirement of basic features, such as e911. "It's been 7 years since we announced we were heading to the mobile phone market as a carrier, despite that WestNet was disqualified from Industry Canada's Wireless Auction, interest in our company has grown to a point that no one would have expected." Says Traya, from his downtown Calgary office.
Traya would not disclose which vendors supply the equipment, usually such a carrier would use Nortel, Nokia, or Lucent equipment.
”The cost of deploying a digital cellular CDMA network, in terms of hardware, base station equipment, has came down substantially in the last decade, what this means to the consumer, we can offer price plans unheard of in the Canadian wireless industry. I receive emails and phone calls on a daily basis, from eager consumers asking when we will be offering service. The demand is there, and has always been there”
As WestNet's future is without question solid, industry analysts agree, CTE analysts Greg Bowman says WestNet may very likely become the Wal-Mart of cell phone service in Canada if "Traya plays his card right."
Progress of WestNet's network development can be monitored at the companies' web site at www.westnet.ca
Poor Economy does not stop Calgarian from building his own Cellular Network
CTE Wireless News
Friday, March 06, 2009
Calgary-based WestNet Wireless has announced that it is setting up its own cellular network, and plans designed for small companies and individuals. WestNet also was the first to launch a wide area Wi-Fi network in downtown Calgary.
WestNet Wireless, a Calgary telecommunications company that traces its roots to the dot-com era of the 90's, is aggressively building it's own CDMA network. The Canadian Wireless Industry has not seen such a innovative cellular company start up almost out of no where. The private funded company, which reportedly picks and chooses investors, says it's budget pricing plan and unlimited North America calling pricing plan are unheard of. Considered by many to be the Wal-Mart of cell phone pricing, WestNets' business model it self is what is causing all the interest.
The man behind the show is Calgarian Abdul Traya. Traya, 26, who started WestNet in 1996, says Industry Canada must lower the costs of frequency rights, allow wireless start ups to purchase frequency rights at much lower costs instead of bidding with multi-billion dollar companies. Abdul, who hopes one day to have WestNet operating as a fully operational CDMA carrier in the Calgary area, says Canadians pay more for mobile internet and cellular use then many third world countries. He describes these costs as “phenomenal.”
"My cellular and wireless internet plan is practical and simple, a cellular provider to offer unlimited North America calling plans, third generation (3G) EV-DO mobile internet, and an open network, meaning subscribers may use their own equipment, something the competitors do not allow, instead charging hundreds of dollars for their branded equipment. We are not even charing that 'System Access fee' the others charge ” Says Traya.
Traya’s open network policy is a step in the right direction. Recently U.S.-based Verizon Wireless announced it will do just that. The subscriber’s phone meets a minimum requirement of basic features, such as e911. "It's been 7 years since we announced we were heading to the mobile phone market as a carrier, despite that WestNet was disqualified from Industry Canada's Wireless Auction, interest in our company has grown to a point that no one would have expected." Says Traya, from his downtown Calgary office.
Traya would not disclose which vendors supply the equipment, usually such a carrier would use Nortel, Nokia, or Lucent equipment.
”The cost of deploying a digital cellular CDMA network, in terms of hardware, base station equipment, has came down substantially in the last decade, what this means to the consumer, we can offer price plans unheard of in the Canadian wireless industry. I receive emails and phone calls on a daily basis, from eager consumers asking when we will be offering service. The demand is there, and has always been there”
As WestNet's future is without question solid, industry analysts agree, CTE analysts Greg Bowman says WestNet may very likely become the Wal-Mart of cell phone service in Canada if "Traya plays his card right."
Progress of WestNet's network development can be monitored at the companies' web site at www.westnet.ca