A pilot wireless broadband service using Wimax technology is to be set up in Milton Keynes but it will be restricted to fixed links – at least initially.

It is the result of a deal between Milton Keynes Council and Pipex Wireless, a company set up by Intel and service provider Pipex.

The service uses spectrum owned by Pipex which is currently approved only for fixed use. A spokesman for the company said discussions are continuing with regulator Ofcom over getting approval for offering a service to mobile devices, which would compete with cellular networks.

Trial base stations will be used to test the value of Wimax links to businesses and homes, and to provide access where DSL broadband provision is limited or unavailable.

Pipex Wireless will deploy five Airspan Hipermax-Micro base stations and provide services using indoor and outdoor subscriber terminals, with an option of integrated Wifi. Five hundred trial users will be given links of between 2Mbits/sec and 10Mbits/sec.

The six-month trial, starting in December, will be extended across Milton Keynes if successful.