WiMAX likely to have limited success

RESEARCH FIRM In-Stat said that while WiMAX wireless technology could compete with DSL and cable modem, its market success is far from certain.

That's because, said Keith Nissan, consumer broadband markets can't support an unlimited number of broadband wireless access service providers. Broadband competition and high subscriber acquisition costs will drive margins lower. He said.

The firm forecasts that WiMAX will only achieve three per cent of total broadband subscribers, or around 8.5 million subscribers worldwide.

Nearly half of these subscribers will use Voice over WiMAX services.

It's going to be emerging countries with antiquated technologies and limited public network capacity which will benefit most from WiMAX.

In Stat estimates that broadband wireless access operators will gain, at most 15 per cent market share. µ