NEW YORK, USA: Although LTE will clearly dominate 4G network deployments over the next five years, WiMax will continue thriving as a strong technology option for certain markets and applications, with worldwide subscribers growing nearly tenfold by the end of 2014, to about 53 million users.

WiMAX has begun to carve out a tight niche tied to certain target opportunities, it has inspired a new wireless business model, and it has a flexible, flat, all-IP network architecture better suited than HSPA to providing Internet-based services.

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This is according to the latest report from Pyramid Research, 'WiMax and LTE: The Case for 4G Coexistence'.

The report analyzes the current WiMax operations worldwide, evaluating operator business models, network economics and the overall market opportunity relative to UMTS/HSPA and LTE.

Dan Locke, senior analyst, Pyramid Research, and author of the report, said: "Once thought of as disruptive of the mobile communications world, WiMax has begun to carve out a tight niche tied to certain target opportunities, including emerging markets, rural, and underserved areas that lack broadband coverage and businesses."

"In contrast, LTE has quickly gained momentum; the world's largest MNOs have already chosen LTE, and some have begun aggressively deploying the technology this year. Going forward, LTE will be the most commonly deployed OFDMA-based standard, and since WiMax (802.16e) and LTE (release 8) will provide similar real-world performance, ultimately the decisions of the largest WiMax players may determine the fate of WiMax," he adds.