Intel Adds $43M To Its Stake In Japanese WiMax Carrier

Intel furthered its investment in UQ Communications, a Japanese-based WiMax service provider, with a $43 million cash injection.

The Tokyo-based company said it will use the money to continue the nationwide expansion of UQ WiMax service and expects to provide WiMax coverage to 90 percent of the country by 2012.

Last month UQ launched a trial of its service. The company said it will officially launch WiMax services next month.

UQ was established as a consortium in August 2007 and, in addition to Intel, includes investors KDDI, Japan's second largest mobile service provider; Kyocera; East Japan Railway; Daiwa Securities; and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ.

In December 2007, UQ received Japan's only mobile WiMax license.

UQ already has deals with some tech-heavy hitters. Under a 2008 agreement, Samsung said it would provide its Mobile WiMax equipment exclusively to UQ. And last month, UQ struck a deal with NEC that will supply UQ with mobile WiMax base stations.

Intel has been working on a number of efforts to further a WiMax global standard. The company is working with other computer and communications makers to embed WiMax-enabled chipsets in devices and has made other investments worldwide to help service providers build and deploy networks to meet spectrum and regulatory needs.

To date, almost 460 WiMax networks have been deployed in 135 countries.

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