In-Stat: WiMAX Poised For Rapid Growth Despite Major Challenges

WiMAX technology is entering a rapid growth phase, as service providers are now able to buy WiMAX Forum-certified equipment, reports In-Stat. Worldwide subscribers are estimated to reach 222,000 in 2006 and are forecasted to grow to 19.7 million by the end of 2010, the high-tech market research firm says. Most of those subscribers are in the Asia/Pacific region. The biggest challenge still comes from competing technologies and services. Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

* With Sprint being the exception, In-Stat does not believe most 3G carriers will deploy WiMAX in the near term.
* Alvarion had the largest share of WiMAX equipment revenue during the first half of 2006.
* In-Stat expects sales in 802.16e equipment to quickly overtake those in 802.16d.
* Regulatory uncertainty and spectrum availability continue to hamper the growth of WiMAX.

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