Comments for WiMAX Meet DirecTV

WiMAX Meet DirecTV

2005-08-10T18:22:19Z

Wow, just came across this blog post "DIRECTV EYEING WIMAX FOR BROADBAND RETURN PATH CONTENT FROM SUBSCRIBERS" on Russell Shaw's Streaming Media blog where Russell states that satellite carriers are looking into using WiMAX instead of dial-up for the "return path".

As you may or may not know, broadband Internet satellite requires a phone line for transmitting where you're going on the Internet. Typically it's a slow dial-up connection that transmits which URLs (upstream/return-path) you are trying to get to, and then the satellite "beams" (downstream) the web page you wish to view.

But this got me wondering... If you can use WiMAX for the "upstream" bandwidth, why not just use WiMAX for the downstream as well? WiMAX providers could "cut" the satellite providers "in the middle" and take the revenue for themselves. Maybe I'm missing something here...

Comment from Chris Martin on 2005-08-10

2005-08-10T19:39:30Z

Just started following your blog as I am very interested yet very uneducated about VoIP. I'm enjoying your posts so far and I thought I'd let you know that the link in the beginning of this post seems to be broken.

Comment from Scott on 2005-08-11

2005-08-11T15:28:56Z

I believe Direct is talking about the return path for their set top box? This is used for things like ordering PPV content and account information.

Comment from Tom Keating on 2005-08-11

2005-08-11T16:18:15Z

Ahhh, well that would make much more sense. Partnering (paying) a WiMAX provider for transmitting PPV content & account info if probably more cost economical than dial-up service. After all, you have to pay for and maintain banks of dial-up modems - thousands of them - or pay an ISP a monthly fee to do it for them.

Though WiMAX equipment isn't cheap either. They have to put some sort of WiMAX hardware at the customer premise. I guess WiMAX must still come out ahead.

Comment from bob evdo kim on 2005-09-07

2005-09-07T22:38:33Z

TOM, lets collaborate here.. i focus on EVDO.. so i think a link exchange would be good for both of us.. lemme know..

Comment from Agasi on 2005-09-17

2005-09-17T11:05:50Z

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