WiMAX Faces Uncertain Future

SAN JOSE, Calif. — WiMAX technology has huge potential, but competing technologies are significant threats, according to In-Stat.

While much uncertainty remains in this market, the high-tech market research firm foresees the WiMAX chipset market reaching as high as $950 million in 2009. Another plausible, more conservative scenario, pegs this market at $450 million in 2009.

"Competing technologies include 3G technologies on the cellular side (EV-DO Release 0, A, and B; HSDPA) and Wi-Fi (coupled with wireless mesh networking and MIMO enhancements within 802.11n) on the networking side," says Gemma Tedesco, In-Stat analyst, in a statement. "Persuading the large service providers to build infrastructures to support WiMAX will be the key for WiMAX boosters, especially convincing cellular operators, who already have built out expensive 3G infrastructures."