WiMAX Steps Up to the Plate

• Posted: Saturday, April 12, 2008
• |
• Author: pradhana
• |
• Filed under: Market Survey, WiMax, Wireless Service

Wireless broadband using WiMAX technology is poised to establish itself as a player in the worldwide market for household broadband delivery, according to Juniper Research's "The Last Mile: Opportunities for WiMAX 2008-2013" report. The company expects 2009 to be the breakthrough year.

WiMAX is an emerging wireless technology that delivers broadband speeds on par with DSL or cable. Given the cost of connecting consumers to fixed networks, WiMAX looms as a cost-saving replacement for the 'last mile' to the home.

There are currently over 250 WiMAX trials in progress worldwide. Combined with a growing number of commercial deployments, Juniper projects that worldwide subscribers will surpass 47 million in 2013—replacing as much as 12% of DSL subscribers.

Meanwhile, recent estimates from Maravedis place the number of WiMAX subscribers at 1.72 million worldwide as of year-end 2007.

The technology's potential is not limited to household access. According to a report from the WiMAX Forum, approximately 70% of WiMAX users will come via mobile and portable devices within five years. The report, to be published in April, forecasts 133 million fixed and mobile WiMAX users worldwide by 2012.

In the near-term, however, obstacles still remain. Sprint's much-publicized goal to be the first major American carrier on the WiMAX map took a notable hit when their partnership with Clearwire collapsed. Sprint nevertheless plans to begin service roll-outs in 2008. [eMarketer]

• Permalink
• RSS 2.0
• 
• 
• 
• 
•