Supercomm - WiMAX - 11 June 2005

WiMAX: another hot topic in Chicago. Hype or reality?

That entire WiMAX buzz comes even before the first round of product certification testing begins. WiMAX is indeed still in its youth, and its success as a broadband access technology is far from assured. The challenges WiMAX faces everywhere are the same: quality of service for VoIP, vendor implications and willingness to deliver cost-effective product, and regulatory issues. The market is not yet defined: for some it will compete with broadband mobile 3G, for others not; some see WiMAX as a wireless DSL connection in rural areas, others see the future of 802.16e products to be nomadic and in mobile applications. Finally everybody agrees that 2006 will be decisive, with the end of the standardization process, and the first 802.16e products certified. Let us meet next year.