m Preparing to launch in 2009 Bahrain Zain Bahrain ISS 2007 MENA Telecom 802.16e commercial launch in 2009 Egypt Two ISPs - EgyNet and TE Data ISS 2008 in tourist resorts Datak TeleCom, Laser TeleCom, ISS 2007/2008 Shatel Telecom Paya Comm. Ltd, Iran Mobin, MTN IranCell, MTCE, RDG Awarded provincial licenses in Nov 2008 IRAQTEL ISS 2007 Kalimat Telecom ISS 2008 Jordan Batelco's UMC ISS 2007 Wi-tribe ISS 2008 Kuwait Arab Telecom ISS 2007 Libya Libya Telecom and Technology Launch expected in early 2009 General Post & Telecom Co. Launch mid to late 2009 Lebanon CedarCom ISS 2006 Comium ISS 2008 Morocco ISS 2007 Meditel ISS 2006 Pakistan Wateen Telecom Largest network in the country since Dec 2007 covering 22 cities Mobilink ISS late 2008 in Karachi only LinkdotNet (ISP) ISS 2007 TeleCard (ISP) Planning to launch in 2009 Qatar Wi-tribe Planning to launch in 2009 Vodafone-Qatar Received license in Sep 2008 Saudi ISS 2007 Arabia ISS 2006 Mobily ISS Fall 2008 Batelco Has the license Etisalat Under customer friendly trial In trial Yemen Nexen Petroleum (Energy company) Service restricted to oil fields only Note: ISS - In Service Since Source: Asif © 2009 IEEE [19] 3G Spectrum Cost: The cost of 3G spectrum is very high compared to the cost of WiMAX frequencies. For example, the operators only paid $1M for acquiring 21 MHz of WiMAX whereas they will pay a minimum of $214M for 20 MHz of 3G in Pakistan. The key limitation in the spread of WiMAX and in particular Mobile WiMAX SO far is the cost of CPE; particularly for poor and developing nations. WiMAX CPEs are very few in number as compared to HSPA and EV-DO modules. Most CPEs can only be used with desktops or laptops Next Generation Mobile Communications Ecosystem with a handful of handheld devices. The cost of WiMAX CPE ranges around $150-$400 with zero subsidies. Though the WiMAX spectrum is much cheaper than UMTS and CDMA frequencies, HSPA and EV-DO have been tested and deployed in many parts of the world whereas WiMAX is still in the phase of proving itself. 4.7.2 WiMA