­Airspan Networks has announced that its WiMAX equipment will form the foundation for a wireless network deployment in Greensburg and Kiowa County, Kansas USA as part of the county's efforts to rebuild after its near complete destruction from a tornado in May last year.

Airspan partner Stutler Technologies has been awarded the contract with Haviland Telephone Company which is responsible for the deployment, operation and management of the county-wide WiMAX system.

The WiMAX network, operating in the public 3.65 GHz band, will consist of base stations located in the highest points of the county, which will communicate with Airspan subscriber units placed in businesses and residential homes. The community has received donations of computer equipment and together with Airspan's WiMAX units will have access to high-speed, 24/7 wireless Internet access.

"Airspan Networks was one of the first technology companies in America to step forward and offer rebuilding assistance to Kiowa County and Greensburg," noted Gene West, chairman of the Kiowa County Commission. "And Stutler Technologies, located just down the road in Emporia, KS, has provided invaluable technical support in designing our 3.65 GHz WiMAX system."

"Our target is to eventually expand the project to include Airspan MiMAX-USB enabled laptops, netbooks, and other portable handheld devices to provide nomadic WiMAX access across most of Kiowa County. My personal goal," West said, only partially joking, "is to provide Internet to the tractor!"

Source:cellular-news