Voice over WiMAX: The Key to Wireless Broadband Profitability?

SUMMARY

WiMAX has the potential to transform broadband access markets, worldwide. As an alternative broadband technology, WiMAX can compete with DSL and cable-modem services without the need for heavy regulation. Yet, the market success of WiMAX is far from certain. Increased broadband competition, price compression and high subscriber acquisition costs threaten to drive margins even lower. Voice over WiMAX may be the key to broadband wireless profitability. By 2009, In-Stat forecasts there will be 4.4 million VoWiMAX subscribers, worldwide.

This report investigates the realistic market opportunities for WiMAX in metropolitan, rural, emerging country and least developed country markets. The business case for data-only and bundled voice/data services is examined. Multi-year forecasts for global broadband subscribers, WiMAX and VoWiMAX, by geographic region, are presented.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Executive Summary
• Methodology
• Segmentation
• Introduction
• WiMAX Broadband Wireless Access Technology
  • WiMAX.
  • VoWiMAX
• The Changing Regulatory Environment
• The Market for WiMAX-based Broadband Wireless Access Services
  • Metropolitan Area Markets
  • Secondary Competitor and Greenfield Markets
  • Emerging Country Markets
  • Least Developed Country Markets
• VoWiMAX Market Forecast
• Conclusion
• Vendor Profiles
  • Airspan
  • Alvarion
  • Aperto
  • Axxcelera
  • NextNet
  • Navini 27
  • Proxim
  • SR Telecom
  • WiLAN
• Glossary

List of Tables

• Table 1. VoWiMAX Total Subscribers and Revenue Forecast 2006-2009
• Table 2. Worldwide Main Line Growth by Category 1998-2003
• Table 3. Financial Comparison between Consumer Voice/Data Bundles and Data-Only Services
• Table 4. Financial Comparison between Metro Consumer and Business Market Models
• Table 5. Financial Comparison Between Consumer Tier 1 Metro and Tier 3 Rural Markets
• Table 6. Main Line Growth for Emerging Countries by Region 1998-2003
• Table 7. LDC Main Line Growth by Region 1998-2003
• Table 8. Worldwide WiMAX Broadband Subscriber Forecast by Geographic Region 2006-2009
• Table 9. Worldwide VoWiMAX Subscriber Forecast 2006-2009
• Table 10. Worldwide VoWiMAX Revenue Forecast 2006-2009

List of Figures

• Figure 1. PMP Broadband Wireless Access Solutions
• Figure 2. Worldwide DSL/Cable-Modem Subscriber Forecast 2005-2009