New threats to WiMAX

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 18 October 2005 16:04

Business IT - Technology

There is no shortage of pundits claiming that broadband data delivered over 3G cellular networks will stifle the ambitions of the WiMAX industry for the standard to become globally significant. Now a new report is tipping WiMAX's close relative the Korean developed WiBro standard to stifle WiMAX.

The report, from US based ABI Research, says that "WiBro was considered only as a South Korean domestic network but that perception is changing rapidly. Built-in compatibility with mobile WiMAX (802.16e), coupled with already-designed terminals and network equipment could make WiBro, and the participating vendors, powerful players on the world market."

ABI Research notes that "WiBro itself is attempting to expand globally with Japanese, South East Asian and US. service operators conducting trials."

According to ABI Research, "[South Korean telcos] KT and SK Telecom are aggressively preparing to launch commercial WiBro services early next year. WiBro equipment vendors and service operators are making progress at a faster pace than the mobile WiMAX camp in terms of standard realsation and system rollout... Positioned between traditional wired broadband access and mobile phone data services, it could fill an important niche."

ABI's study, "The WiBro Rollout and its Worldwide Implications," examines global strategies for both international and Korean vendors, along with the technology's compatibility with mobile WiMAX. The study also compares WiBro-based services with alternative wireless services offered via CDMA 1X/EV-DO, WLAN, DMB and HSDPA technologies.

Another contender is UMTS-TDD, specified within the 3GPP standard for GSM and WCDMA cellular. The technology is backed by the global UMTS TDD Alliance which claims that UMTS TDD solutions have been shown to support peak downlink sector capacities of up to 12Mbps and average capacities per sector that are more than 3 times higher than any other commercial mobile platform.

The alliance claims that " Major mobile operators, Internet service providers, and new operators around the world have chosen UMTS TDD because UMTS TDD networks are compliant with international spectrum standards, offer exceptional performance, are standards-based, and offer economies of scale. Today, UMTS TDD covers more people in more countries than any other broadband wireless access technology."

New Zealand carrier, Whoosh Wireless has over 15,000 customers on a UMTS TDD network using equipment supplied by IPWireless. The Alliance will hold its next summit in Auckland in November.