T&A: NEC Corporation has begun a Mobile WiMAX pilot system for Thailand’s Crown Prince Hospital Foundation. The contract covers the setting up of a WiMAX network between Chiang Khong Crown Prince Hospital, located in the country’s northern region, and its affiliated primary care units (PCU).

According to an NEC press release, Thailand’s broadband communications infrastructure is expanding, but a majority of growth is focused in the Bangkok metropolitan area. In January 2008, trial licenses  were issued to 12 communication carriers with early indications showing that demand for WiMAX access exists, despite regional constraints and usage limitations.

The service provides wireless broadband communications to locations within a maximum radius of five kilometers, which covers three affiliated PCUs and allows communications and transmission of large capacity data, video and TV phone services for remote medical consultation among medical staff and their patients.

Plans are in place to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the operation over one year before expanding the WiMAX system to cover all 20 Crown Prince Hospitals throughout the country.