The lead of WiMax as the next generation mobile Internet connectivity platform received a boost in the US, with its first launch scheduled for next month.
Clearwire, the leader in development of WiMax technology in the States, has announced the launch of services next month in ten areas of the country, including places in Texas, Idaho and Washington. The launch is expected to cover a potential subscriber base of 1.6 million users. This number is quite small compared to the actual population in either the US or in the UK, but represents WiMax’s foothold in the market.
Clearwire has estimated that its potential subscriber base would reach 120 million by the end of 2010, which is when rival technology LTE is expected to be launched commercially. LTE, spearheaded by telecom technology major Verizon Wireless, is currently lagging behind WiMax in the best broadband race for commercial launch viability.
Industry experts, however, believe LTE will become the dominant player in the market replacing WiMax once it is launched. Juniper Research, a technology and communications industry analyst, believes that spending on LTE will be close to five times that on WiMax by 2014. Given the technological and marketing muscle of Verizon, the idea may soon become a reality.
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