Advertisment

WiMax and LTE: The case for 4G coexistence

author-image
CIOL Bureau
Updated On
New Update

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.

Advertisment

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.

EU to invest € 18 mn in 4G technology

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

Advertisment

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.

tech-news