WiMAX to trail mobile broadband market by 2010

November 23, 2006

New alternative technologies will add just 6 percent of the forecasted 500 million mobile broadband global users by 2010, reported Strategy Analytics. Despite all the hype surrounding alternative technologies like WiMAX, iterations of existing technologies will dominate the mobile broadband arena in the short term.

According to the research firm's report, Beyond 3G: Looking for True Mobile Broadband, technologies such as mobile WiMAX and UMTS TDD will lead the alternative technology camp. However, enhancements to existing technologies, including HSPA and EV-DO Revision A+ will constitute the bulk of the market and are where the money lies in the short-term.

"We're not likely to see technologies like mobile WiMAX or indeed, anything else, really take off until the next decade," said Sara Harris, senior industry analyst at Strategy Analytics and author of the report. "However, HSPA and EV-DO will be more than acceptable for most users, giving them the speed and flexibility they want to use their fixed internet applications on the move."