Mobile WiMAX Heading For Mediocrity?

Nov. 6, 2008

Mobile WiMAX has been presented as one of the true wireless broadband technology solutions for years to come. But market prognosticator IMS Research believes that it will struggle to gain traction with operators, and will ultimately remain a niche mobile technology. And IMS Research Market Analyst Bob Perez offers that some of the projections for mobile WiMAX may be a bit overinflated. He explains that "the truth is that WiMAX is a very robust technology that has been quite successful in many parts of the world as a fixed broadband solution and will continue to do so, especially in underserved markets. Although mobile WiMAX networks are already going live thanks to Sprint/Clearwire and Korea Telecom the prospect of additional mobile WiMAX networks from Tier 1 operators are looking pretty grim."

The market for both fixed and mobile WiMAX is examined in detail in the new IMS Research report, "The Worldwide Market for WiMAX & Competing Products 2008 Edition." In addition, the upcoming report from IMS Research, "Mobile Broadband: 4G Network Evolution" will contain a comprehensive analysis of both the mobile WiMAX and LTE markets.

About the Author

Jack Browne

Technical Contributor

Jack Browne, Technical Contributor, has worked in technical publishing for over 30 years. He managed the content and production of three technical journals while at the American Institute of Physics, including Medical Physics and the Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology. He has been a Publisher and Editor for Penton Media, started the firm’s Wireless Symposium & Exhibition trade show in 1993, and currently serves as Technical Contributor for that company's Microwaves & RF magazine. Browne, who holds a BS in Mathematics from City College of New York and BA degrees in English and Philosophy from Fordham University, is a member of the IEEE.