Mobile WiMAX will outpace long term evolution (LTE) over the next few years, due to its head start on deployments, says new research from In-Stat.
The report, called ‘The Road to 4G: LTE and WiMAX Lead The Way’, examines the worldwide market for 4G wireless technology. It notes that Mobile WiMAX arrived in 2006 with South Korea’s WiBro, while comparatively, the earliest commercial LTE deployment won’t be available until at least the end of 2009, as Japan’s NTT DoCoMo pledged to begin its commercial services in the late 2009/2010 timeframe.
"Most of the operators looking to deploy WiMAX come to it from the fixed network space. These operators are looking to use WiMAX as an enhanced DSL service. Enhanced DSL will combine both the fixed broadband service with some form of nomadic coverage," says Daryl Schoolar, In-Stat analyst, in the release. "Most of the early operators supporting LTE come from the mobile space. These operators want to use LTE to increase capacity and peak rates on their existing mobile networks."
The research also found:
– HSPA may turn into 802.16e WiMAX’s true competitor, with HSPA Evolved allowing WCDMA operators to delay deploying LTE.
– Verizon is at the forefront with LTE, most operators will not deploy until 2011 or 2012.
– In-Stat predicts LTE will have 23.1 million subscriptions in 2013, growing from about 176 thousand in 2010.
– Nearly 82 million mobile PCs with WiMax will ship in 2013.
