Bojacob's Den

Warning: This is a geeky speculation post, so don't expect much humor here. It's coming in the next post, hopefully :)

Things might get very interesting in the coming years. The government has licensed ISPs to use the WiMAX spectrum and allowed them to deply WiMAX internet. I think FastTelco has WiMAX up and running, but I don't believe it has widespread coverage.

There's currently a bit too many caveats with WiMAX. Range isn't all that much in our urban country. If you're more than 2km away from the tower, you better pray you have line of sight, as the only way you're getting WiMAX is through an antenna on your roof. There's quite a few buildings the signal will bump into, meaning you'll need more towers around the country if you're going to have country-wide coverage.

However, let's pretend we have WiMAX coverage in the entire country. Let's also pretend you got Nokia's new WiMAX enabled cell phone, meaning you have fast and reliable access to the internet anywhere, anyplace. You have Skype planted on your phone, and so do all your friends. You want to call someone? Just press his name and he'll receive your call through the Internet. VoIP, they call it.

The line between ISP and mobile telecommunication companies seems to be blurring, and Zain/Wataniya isn't going to like it. Flat fee based calling through the Internet, where all you need is a WiMAX enabled phone with free Skype-to-Skype calling anywhere in the world? They're not going to like it at all. It's adapt, or die.

What's more is that the government won't license telecommunication companies to be independent ISPs. They have to get their internet from the current ISPs in Kuwait. Sooner or later, they'll realize ISPs are trespassing on telecommunication turf and grant them a license. With powerhouses like Zain, you can pretty much spell doom to the ISPs.

I don't know how soon it will be, but I know someday we'll have access to cheap, reliable wireless internet all over the country. Some might say we already have that with 3G, but with the current pricing and unreliable/slow experience, I'd say we're not there just yet. I don't know if WiMAX will be the one to do it either, as it's not without its flaws.

I just know that someday, communication will all be through the Internet. We just have to watch out for lobbies and was6at trying to kill the wave of the future (and they will try hard.)

Ah, Internet, how I love you. Your inevitable domination of the world makes me all fuzzy inside!