In 2011 WiMAX equipment alone is expected to be a $2 billion industry. Investment in WiMAX technology is flowing, and in the first half of 2011 over 30 different WiMAX networks were either launched or expanded operations, according to Infonetics Research.
With over $500 million spent in the first quarter of 2011 on WiMAX RAN equipment alone, WiMAX technology is continuing to attract operators interested in bringing broadband internet to their customers immediately,” said Ron Resnick, president and chairman of the WiMAX Forum. Consumers easily recognize the value of 4G services, and the entire industry is benefiting through strong subscriber growth and equipment and device sales.”
WiMAX is shaping new experiences for wireless delivery. WiMAX market has developed into a prime, extensive and diverse ecosystem. From 2009 to 2010, the number of WiMAX subscribers worldwide reached from 3 million to more than 7.5 million.
The end of 2005 marked a unique feat for WiMAX since it was during this time that the world’s first mobile broadband network, based on the 802.16e standard was launched. The major achievement came in for the WiMAX industry in 2007 when Beceem Communications, a provider of terminal chipsets for Mobile WiMAX, announced the completion of the first major milestone of Mobile WiMAX when the equipment testing was performed.
Among other equipment vendors, Motorola has taken the benefit of WiMAX’s momentum and presently it has 40 WiMAX contracts with operators across the world. Proxim, a wireless vendor, has also utilized data and voice transfer over a WiMAX network, thereby eliminating the fixed cables.
Diverting the focus from Latin-American countries towards the country like India, WiMAX has taken many useful initiatives on this ground too. BSNL offers WiMAX services in rural areas, and few months back, it launched its service in Ajmer and Rajasthan. It is expected to begin commercial operations in Karnataka in the very near future. The telco has started a separate tender for the supply of 7,000 WiMAX base stations for its own WiMAX.
In February, 2011, WiMAX Forum reported that as of the end of 2010, WiMAX service providers have covered more than 823 million people. This estimate surpasses last year’s forecast of 800 million people.
According to Infonetics Research, last year the WiMAX equipment market grew by 85 percent. The WiMAX equipment market will reach $6.9 Billion in 2014.
Samsung continues to be the top-selling WiMAX vendor by a large margin, followed by Huawei, Alvarion, and Motorola.
