PSU BSNL launched on Saturday, India’s first commercial mobile WiMAX-based services in Kerala’s Ernakulum district.

Aviat Networks which formerly was known as Harris Stratex is the technology partner for BSNL in setting up the WiMAX network.

Ernakulam district will be covered by 25 WiMAX base stations in the fist phase covering ripunithura, Kalamassery, Aluva and Angamaly municipalities. BSNL aims to deploy 59 BTS ( base transceiver stations) in the second phase covering Ernakulam and Idukki districts as well as panchayat areas.

BSNL plans to deploy as many as 900 BTS to be installed in two phases to cover the entire Kerala circle. The first phase will see setting up of 450 BTS covering major cities, district headquarters and prominent towns.

BSNL will offer the WiMAX services under two tariff plans. For retail segment, a home plan is on offer for a monthly rental of Rs 999 while for enterprise segment, there is Rs 1,999 monthly rental plan.

Subscribers will be required to procure CPE (customer premise equipment) which will be available for Rs 40 for indoor & outdoor CPE while Rs 30 will be the charge for USB dongles. The CPEs can also be bought on a outright basis. For indoor CPEs, the charge will be Rs 4,200, Rs 5000 for outdoor CPEs and Rs 2,800 for USB dongles.

Recently BSNL launched rural WiMAX services in Rajasthan in technical partnership with Huawei Technologies.