When it comes to the next generation of wireless broadband, the carriers seem to have the Long Term Evolution standard, or LTE, all sewn up, but the competing 4G service WiMAX is nothing to scoff at. WiMAX service, deployed in the U.S. by Sprint and 13 rural carriers, is gaining ground in other areas of the world, especially India, according to data published today by TeleGeography Research.
The research firm said the number of commercial WiMAX networks worldwide grew 82 percent — to 126 from 69 — between the third quarter of 2007 and the same period this year. For rural access, WiMAX is a technology that can replace existing low-speed modems and satellite broadband communications, making it popular in developing countries. Even in the U.S., carriers such as FairPoint Communications, which said today it would deploy a WiMAX network in New England for rural access, and AT&T are eying the technology as a cheaper alternative to laying fiber or more copper. So WiMAX may not be living up to its earlier hype as the dominant wireless broadband technology, but it’s still a market with legs.
chart courtesy of TeleGeography Research
Looks like US is not moving as fast as the other parts of the world. That will probably change next year with the XOHM and Clearwire in full swing.
— http://www.WiMAXED.com
@ wimaxed
I don’t think so. At least as far as the chart shown. It counts “networks” independent of size, so Sprint-XOHM/Clearwire will be one and the 13 rural networks are the other that add to 14.
It will be interesting when we can see metrics like cellsites deployed or POPs covered, or users by geographic region.
Kevin, and that’s why Twain’s famous quip about statistics is so true. It will be worthwhile to see what percentage of the population has access to a WiMAX network as well as how much equipment is deployed to serve those people.
Kevin you are right.
How does this compare to LTE, HSPA / HSDPA, etc to better understand the relevance and scale?