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Mobile and Wireless in 2004: Three Key Events: Page 2 of 3

Ratification of 802.16-2004

The IEEE's 802.16-2004 is expected to be the foundation upon which WiMAX
fixed wireless data services will be built. Borrowing a play from the
Wi-Fi Alliance, the WiMAX Forum will promote a unified standard and
develop certification for interoperable fixed-wireless data services.
While the market viability for such services is yet to be established,
WiMAX has the potential to impact the global data services in several
ways.

First, and most significant in the short-term, WiMAX will provide a
foundation for delivering cost-effective, last-mile, broadband access
service to under-served areas, including rural areas in the United
States and across a broader footprint in developing countries where
wired infrastructure is not pervasive. Second, just like satellite TV
put pressure on cable companies to upgrade their video service
offerings, WiMAX will provide much-needed competition for DSL and cable
data service offerings. Finally, over time, the 802.16 standards
committee will add support for mobility, providing broadband mobile
service offerings that will compete with 3G and emerging metro Wi-Fi
deployments.

After the holidays, I'll take my shot at prognostication about key
likely developments in 2005.

Dave Molta is Network Computing's senior technology editor. Write to him at [email protected]