Ateneo receives WiMAX donation from Ionics EMS

MANILA, Philippines - Imagine a 4G broadband campus-wide information system in Ateneo. How does having access to a fast WiMAX connection from Ateneo to Marikina sound to you? And if you’re a budding application developer, doesn’t the thought of coming up with next-generation content-based services and having the means to test them on a live population sound exciting?

Thanks to the WiMAX base station and access point donation from Ionics EMS Inc., wide-reaching WiMAX access will soon be enjoyed by Ateneo and its greater community.

During the recent hand-over ceremony, Dr. Gregory Tangonan, director of the Ateneo Innovation Center (AIC), said the donation will be used for the broadcasting content from Ateneo to Marikina Valley.

The community should also anticipate the development of next-generation content-based services and Web applications by students through the PLDT-Ateneo Media and Information Lab, which will potentially be tested on a live population.

Other planned future developments include: connecting to PLDT fiber optic link, establishing communications with the Manila Observatory, and powering access points with solar panels.

Wimax, or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is “an IP-based, wireless broadband access technology that provides performance similar to 802.11/Wi-Fi networks with the coverage and QOS (quality of service) of cellular networks.” It is a technology made for wireless “metropolitan area networks.” (Source: http://www.wimax.com/general/what-is-wimax)

AIC will also strengthen partnerships and embark on more projects with technology companies to build more creative products and services for the future. “AIC, as a test bed of innovations, plans to bring a larger group of companies together,” Tangonan said.  

Tangonan also spoke highly of Ionics, a proudly Filipino provider of EMS and ODM services with product design and design support, new product introduction, industrial engineering and manufacturing system and integrated supply chain management. Around 70 percent of its products go to telecoms. It has worked with IBM for close to 17 years.

Larry Qua, chairman and CEO of Ionics EMS Inc., shared how he was struck by Tangonan’s vision for the Philippines when he met the AIC director a few years ago. This is probably why his company Ionics decided to partner with Ateneo in the creation and development of technologies.

His company engages in Original Design Manufacturing (ODM). Eventually, he envisions Ionics to be a company conducting Original Brand Manufacturing (OBM) because he believes that the “Philippines should have a brand of its own” in this field, like Samsung and LG in Korea and Acer in Taiwan, to name a few.

He also highlighted their invention called the plug computer, which he proudly says is the smallest server in the world. At present, they are looking for partner companies who can build applications for their product.

Ionics also donated development kits to students so that they, too, can develop their own applications for the plug computer.