India could become the world leader in WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), the emerging technology platform for Internet access, according to Dr Craig Barrett, Chairman of Intel.

Dr Barrett was speaking at Baramati in Pune district of Maharashtra state where WiMAX has been implemented on a pilot project basis. Baramati is the constituency of the Union Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar.

The commercial implementation of WiMAX for Pune city itself is awaiting regulatory clearances.

To enable the wireless communications infrastructure at the community computer centre and public kiosks, Intel, which has invested $1 billion in developing technologies for WIMAX, and Aircel have installed a WiMAX network at Baramati.

This network allows Internet access speeds of 512 kbps to remote communities.

The PCs for the service, donated by Intel to the community centres and the kiosks, are specifically designed for the Indian environment.