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Cellular
carriers need to develop WiMax strategy now
Ramon Barquin III
Computers & Business World News
Scottsdale
Arizona
The impact of WiMAX on the cellular industry is
not currently known, but carriers need to put
together their strategies concerning WiMAX now,
reports In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). For existing cellular carriers, WiMAX
may potentially become a big competitor, a great
ally, or a minor factor, the high-tech market
research firm says. Nevertheless, it's clear that
a strategy for WiMAX is the biggest decision
cellular carriers have had to make since planning
for 3G deployment.
"WiMAX faces many challenges, including
multiple incompatibility standards, different
frequency allocations in each country, and
expensive consumer devices," says Allen
Nogee, In-Stat analyst. "But fixed-line
WiMAX is here, and mobile WiMAX will be arriving
in the next few years."
Recent research by In-Stat found the following:
- Mobile VoWiMAX isn't likely to be used much
before 2009.
- There are many "profiles" in
different regions of the world, meaning that
WiMAX devices will likely operate differently in
different regions, unless device manufacturers
are willing to accept extra expenses to make a
universal WiMAX device that supports all
profiles.
- When WiMAX competes with cellular, cellular
operators will be forced to decrease their prices
for wireless data services over cellular. Even if
WiMAX fails after that point, it is unlikely that
cellular carriers will ever again be able to
charge the amount they currently do for wireless
data services. |
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