Alternative telecom operator Max Telecom launched its national WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) network yesterday, providing coverage of ten cities in the country with population of about 2.2mn (more than 30% of country’s total population). The operator plans to integrate four more cities and the three biggest winter resorts Borovets, Pamporovo and Bansko in near terms. The company has invested a total of EUR 15mn in the WiMAX network development and plans to invest the same amount in the next year. Max Telecom plans to cover 90% of the population by next year’s end. The company holds a point-to-multi-point licence granted in November 2005. Four other companies are also licensed to construct WiMAX networks – BTC, Cosmo Bulgaria Mobile (operating the second largest wireless grid GloBul), Trans Telecom, and Nexcom. The latter announced plans last week to offer services in all major cities by the end of the year and to invest more than EUR 20mn in development of its WiMax network until 2009. The point-to-multi-point technology allows telecom operators to integrate wireless and landline grids offering internet, voice, and video transferred based on WiMAX or other standards. At the beginning of this week Trans Telecom started offering free online TV service to its customers using WiMAX technology and plans to offer wireless services as of next year.