Future bright for WiMAX, VoIP services: Survey

Richard Webb, directing analyst for WiMAX, microwave, and mobile devices, Infonetics Research, said: "Some of the strategic findings in this report are surprising: in particular, the fact that two-thirds of the service providers we surveyed intend to use WiMAX for mobility-based services by 2012, or that over ninety percent expect to offer VoIP over WiMAX by then." Also Read: NSN Alcatel and now Cisco: Is WiMAX losing grounds?

"The WiMAX industry is up against the clock to address these challenges if it is to fulfill its undoubted potential as a long-term broadband technology," he notes.

The study finds that fixed/nomadic basic broadband services dominate the WiMAX market currently, but service providers plan to diversify the services they offer over WiMAX by 2012.There is continued demand for a broadband access "wireless DSL" solution in most regions worldwide. Even in developed countries, such as the US, there are portions of the geography that remain under-served and are a ripe opportunity for WiMAX. Sixty four percent of service provider respondents plan to offer full mobility by 2012, up from 24 percent in Infonetics' 2010 survey. Full mobility is likely to be smartphone-oriented, combining data mobility and voice, though initially USB dongles will be the device of choice for nomadic/mobile services. Availability of WiMAX-enabled mobile devices tops the list of respondents' commercial challenges. Other top commercial challenges include marketing and positioning WiMAX services, building retail and distribution channels, providing service level agreements for enterprise customers, and defining a pricing model for a low-ARPU market.