Headlines - Intel hits out at Gartner WiMAX claims

[HEXUS]

WiMAX blogger at the chip giant, Gregory Ofili, derides the latest Gartner research into the WiMAX market.

Read more.

[jacomo]

Ofili has a series of good points.
Gartner positions are based on speculation and not on any serious facts.
I want to look at WiMAX that is real today and ignore the futures of any LTE Network which will cause major financials problems/business case justification (forklift upgrade) for any Carrier moving from EV-DO and or HSDPA to LTE.

Lets look at a few facts and challenges for WiMAX:
-WiMAX is working today worldwide in Fixed and Nomadic/Portable services (802.16-2004).
-I would expect Mobile WiMAX to be provided in major US market (Tier#1 & 2) by end of 2010.
-The WIMAX network by design is open to both CPE and Applications and will deliver true Broadband Wireless services (2-4Mbps/Sub).
-The WiMAX Forum has finally realized that it also needs a FDD based system if it is to address future 4G networks.

WiMAX challenges:
-It is based on the 2.5Ghz Licensed spectrum, which will severly limits its ability to provide a Carrier Grade Mobile Wireless network nationwide-especially in Rural and Suburban markets where foliage will bring it to its knees. Not sure the 100Mhz of spectrum will help in In Building penetration either.
-If it wants to address the 4G world, the WiMAX forum must aggressively seek to get approval for a FDD based system that can operate in the AWS (1700Mhz & 2100Mhz) Licensed spectrum. The Clearwire teams MSO partners have significant AWS Spectrum nationwide and can help.
-The only other available spectrum that might help WiMAX attain a true 4G service is 700Mhz and the Big Carriers have already locked up most of that and will dominate the CPE side of that business as well. In addition most of the avaialable 700Mhz spectrum is only 12Mhz deep.
-The new Gobi Chip & SDR from Qualcomm might very well cause serious problems for WiMAX as configured. I would expect that most future Laptops and many new customer access devices will ultimately be deployed with only the following 3 RF capabilities: LTE (700Mhz) for Voice & Data, MediaFlo for Broadcast Video/TV and finally a 802.11n (dual radio) for inbuilding WiFi/WLAN capability. This should pretty much cover the Fixed, Portable and Mobile Wireless markets.

Now a little on future LTE-DreamWorld stuff
-Real world expectations on deployment of any Nationwide LTE network is looking like 2012-2013.Verizon Wireless will lead here maybe as early as 2011.
-Not much discussion (by analysts or vendors) on how to cost justify upgrading (Forklift) existing 3G Nets, which have yet to be paid for, to a new unproven technology (LTE). Not to mention what to do with the Upteen Billion 3G customers using single mode phones.
-The big boys (VW and AT&T) have both committed to deploy a LTE network based on the new 700Mhz spectrum that many analyst and most vendors say is key to providing a Mobile Wireless network covering both Urban and Rural markets. The 2.5GHz based Mobile WiMAX Networks will shine in urban canyons where it can leverage the OFDMA/Multipath features but will struggle in Suburban and Rural markets where foliage will cause serious problems


What can a Provider with 12Mhz of 700MHz Spectrum and 20MHz of AWS Spectrum do to provide a serious Broadband Wireless Network in its markets allowing it to compete with existing 3g and future 4G Cell based Voice/Data Networks??

Jim A