Mobile WiMAX: is it reaching a breaking point?

By Aaron Baker • June 23, 2008

According to Frost & Sullivan, if spectrum auctions and commercial Mobile WiMAX rollouts don’t take place by 2008, the market for WiMAX may become insignificant. According to their studies, their research shows that emerging technologies are making it challenging for it to become a mainstream mobile access technology. They don’t believe, however, that the entire idea is a waste: they think that the technology may spur new innovations, and may merge with 3G LTE at a later date.

Sprint has delayed its commerical WiMax service, known as Xohm, significantly. The company now states that it will launch in Baltimore in September 2008 followed by Washington DC and Chicago by Q4 2008, assuming that the Clearwire/Sprint agreement is approved. The group also notes that 97% of all laptop computers are shipped with WiFi included. That, combined with the likelihood of ratification of 3G LTE in 2008, doesn’t bode well for the technology.

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