BY month’s end nearly every township in Yangon will have access to wireless internet through Red Link Communications’ WiMax network, the company said last week.

U Myo Myint Nyunt, the company’s sales and marketing manager, said Red Link has extended its network coverage to another 15 townships – 14 within Yangon’s east and one to the south.

“A base station between Thingangyun and Thaketa township has already been completed and we’ve started doing surveys for setting up the connection. Users in these districts should be able to access this service by the end of this month,” he said.

The extended network will cover Botahtaung, Pazundaung, Mingalar Taung Nyunt, Tarmwe, Yankin, Thingangyun, Thaketa, Dawbon, South Okkalapa, North Okkalapa, Dagon Myothit (North), Dagon Myo Thit (South), Dagon Myothit (East) and Dagon Seikkan townships to the east and Thanlyin township to the south, he said.

The company’s surveys show that at least 30 parties are interested in subscribing to the service, which costs a hefty FEC1500 to set up, with variable monthly charges tacked on later.

Monthly service charges depend on whether customers select the consumer, enterprise or corporate plan, which offer different speeds and capacities.

Consumers must pay FEC45 a month and receive maximum internet speeds of 128 kilobits per second (kbps). This plan can only be linked to one computer and will have a solitary email account to accompany it. The enterprise plan offers 256kbps, three email accounts and can be used on four computers; monthly charges will be FEC75.

Corporate costs FEC130 but brings with it 25 email accounts and can be used on 12 computers. It also offers a rapid 512kbps.

There is also the option of a VOIP (voice over internet protocol) line at a cost of FEC360, which can only be used to call within Myanmar but offers a flat K50 rate per minute for all calls.

Consumer and enterprise users are limited to one such line, while corporate clients have the option of acquiring two.

The company, which has been offering WiMax in Yangon since late October last year and already counts 200 registered users. The company has also started offering 24-hour technical assistance to subscribers.

U Myo Myint Nyunt said the help desk, which will be located at the company’s Yangon and Mandalay offices, will run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.