Trio form broadband wireless partnership

Thales, Thomson Multimedia and Nextream (a joint venture between Alcatel and Thomson dedicated to interactive video networks) have announced the formation of a partnership called WIMUS (Wireless Multimedia System), to be jointly owned by Thales and Thomson.
WIMUS will be dedicated to developing and marketing the first integrated very high-speed broadband wireless access solutions, in order to provide new multimedia services to business and residential customers. The venture will draw on Nextream's experience in content processing and transmission, Thales' expertise in microwave base stations and receivers, and Thomson's broadband access technologies and products.
The commercial launch of the solutions developed by WIMUS is scheduled for autumn 2003. They will be priced to compete with current multi-channel satellite reception equipment and will offer subscribers very high-speed interactive multimedia services.
The deployment of the WIMUS offering will speed the development of multimedia via the Internet in both broadcast and interactive modes by facilitating access to an extensive array of new services. WIMUS solutions will consist of very compact base stations distributing bi-directional waveforms supporting images and Internet access within a two- or three-km radius, in compliance with the DAVIC standard. Subscribers have an external receiver, a small 15-centimeter cylinder placed on their television antenna mast and connected to the television set-top decoder and computer by standard cable.
Thales, www.thalesgroup.com
Thompson, www.thomson-multimedia.com
Nexttream, www.nextream-online.com
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