Mobile WiMAX: Opportunity, not Threat, for Mobile Operators

(Business News & Technology News, 11 Feb 2008)

From a mobile operator perspective, mobile WiMAX or 802.16e provides more of a service complement, than a competitive threat. According to market research firm In-Stat, the mobile standard for WiMAX has been the subject of debate since its inception. Mobile operators and vendors have disputed how this technology will impact their existing operations. The debate can be broken into two camps.

"One camp led by select equipment vendors with no stake in WiMAX has taken an either/or approach to discussing mobile WiMAX," says Daryl Schoolar, In-Stat analyst. "Any gain by WiMAX comes at the expense of other 3G data technologies. In the other camp, infrastructure vendors like Alcatel-Lucent, Motorola, and Nokia Siemens see a world where multiple mobile wireless broadband technologies will co-exist. In-Stat believes that the latter camp's view will prevail."

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:
- IMT-2000 acceptance will open new markets for 802.16e.
- Mobile WiMAX will be more successful with laptops, external laptop adaptors, and other consumer electronics than in phone handsets. It is these devices outside of the handset where WiMAX provides the greatest competitive challenge to traditional cellular technologies.
- WiMAX will create new revenue opportunities for existing mobile operators.

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