Sprint’s delay in launching its Xohm WiMAX service will cause problems for the carrier, but shouldn’t be read as the demise of WiMAX as a 4G mobile broadband standard, according to the inaugural report issued by Sidecut Reports. Sidecut is a research firm headed by Paul Kapustka, the former managing editor for GigaOM.
Kapustka points out the technology’s growth in developing countries that are building out new infrastructure, as well as its potential as a possible alternative to copper for competitive local exchange carriers. So while WiMAX may not be big in the U.S., if Sprint can’t get Xohm up before the other carriers launch their 4G LTE networks, the technology itself should still prove attractive around the rest of the world, according to the report.
Wimax is definitively getting traction in Asia.
Malaysia’ Packet One is deploying a Wimax network, while YTL YMAX get ready to deploy too.
Taiwan’s government is also pushing Wimax deployments in-country to help Taiwanese handset and CPE vendors get more competitive worldwide.
Japan awarded licenses month ago, and Korea Wibro is commercial for a few years already.
Note that in most emerging markets, fixed line/broadband penetration is very small and wireless broadband is a more cost-effective way to provide Internet access.