Positioning WiMAX

SUMMARY

This report helps operators assess the WiMax opportunity. Comparisons of WiMax, HSDPA and CDMA 1xEV-DO capabilities and availability timeframes allow mobile operators to determine the best broadband solution. Fixed operators can benchmark WiMax against other fixed wireless broadband technologies. The report also assesses the impact of the next generation WiMax, 802.16e, on mobility uses for fixed and mobile operators.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Exhibits

Acronyms and Abbreviations

Acronyms and Abbreviations

Companies Mentioned in This Report

Executive Summary

Section 1: WiMAX: The Big Picture

• 1.1: Why are Operators Interested in Broadband Internet?
• 1.2: Wireless Broadband Choices are Multiplying
  • What is WiMAX?
  • WiMAX - A Work in Progress
  • WiMAX Deployment: Three Phases
• 1.3: WiMAX Promises and Shortcomings
  • What Does WiMAX Promise?
  • Is WiMAX be Too Good to be True?
• 1.4: The CPE Dilemma
• 1.5: WiMAX Niche Opportunities
  • Meshing Wi-Fi and WiMAX
  • WiMAX and Satellite

Section 2: Surveying the Market: Executives Tell All

• 2.1: Scope and Methodology
• 2.2: Operator Perspectives
  • Operators Feel Quite Familiar With WiMAX and Expect It to be Successful
  • Operators are Considering a WiMAX Investment
  • Different Approaches to Spectrum Use
  • WiMAX vs. Proprietary Broadband
  • Pricing is Unclear
  • Vendor Positioning: What Do Operators Expect From Vendors?
• 2.3: Industry View: Important Factors to Determine the Future of WiMAX
• 2.4: Industry View: Market Segmentation
  • Geographical-Addressable Market
  • Customer Profile
• 2.5: Industry View: Key Applications for WiMAX - Fixed Wireless Broadband, Backhaul and Mobility
  • WiMAX Will First and Foremost be a Fixed Solution
  • Backhaul - An Obvious Winner
  • WiMAX Mobility
  • Cellular vs. WiMAX
  • Is WiMAX a Threat to 3G?
  • WiMAX and Voice
• 2.6: Industry View: Will WiMAX Substitute or Complement?

Section 3: The WiMAX Opportunity

• 3.1: WiMAX - Fixed Wireless Broadband
  • Scenario 1: Conservative Approach
  • Scenario 2: More Optimistic View on Residential Market Adoption
• 3.2: Wi-Fi, WiMAX and 3G: Friends or Foe?
  • Prospects for 802.16e
• 3.3: Wi-Fi and WiMAX
  • WiMAX as an Enabler of Wi-Fi Growth
  • Global WLAN Public Hot Spot Forecasts
  • Global WLAN User Forecasts
  • Wi-Fi and WiMAX - Competitors
• 3.4: 802.16e vs. 802.20

Appendix

• Exhibit 1: Global Voice Revenues, 2001-2009
• Exhibit 2: Global Narrowband and Broadband Line Expansion, 2004-2009
• Exhibit 3: Overview of Different Wireless Broadband Technologies
• Exhibit 4: Timeline of WiMAX Standardization
• Exhibit 5: The Spectrum of Broadband Wireless Models
• Exhibit 6: Spectrum Allocation for WiMAX
• Exhibit 7: Overlapping Networks: 802.11x and 802.16a/e
• Exhibit 8: Wi-Fi Mesh Networks Provide Redundancy
• Exhibit 9: Breakdown of Online Survey Respondents
• Exhibit 10: Breakdown of Operator Interviewees
• Exhibit 11: Titles of Operator Interviewees
• Exhibit 12: Functions of Operator Interviewees
• Exhibit 13: Locations of Operator Interviewees
• Exhibit 14: Operator Interviewees' Company Size in Revenues
• Exhibit 15: Operator Interviewees' Company Size in Employees
• Exhibit 16: "How familiar are you with WiMAX?"
• Exhibit 17: "Do you think WiMAX will be successful?"
• Exhibit 18: "Has your business considered investing in WiMAX?"
• Exhibit 19: "How much does your company plan to invest in WiMAX equipment over the next several years?"
• Exhibit 20: "How long do you think it will take your company to break even on a WiMAX investment?"
• Exhibit 21: "What factors will drive uptake by operators?"
• Exhibit 22: "At what frequencies would you consider deploying WiMAX?"
• Exhibit 23: "Will WiMAX replace proprietary broadband fixed wireless technology?"
• Exhibit 24: "Which would you buy, WiMAX or proprietary?"
• Exhibit 25: "Which vendors currently supply WiMAX equipment?"
• Exhibit 26: "Which vendors will eventually supply WiMAX equipment?"
• Exhibit 27: "What factors will contribute to the success of WiMAX?"
• Exhibit 28: "Will WiMAX succeed?"
• Exhibit 29: "What factors will hinder the success of WiMAX?"
• Exhibit 30: "Where will WiMAX be deployed?"
• Exhibit 31: Operators Think WiMAX Will Be Deployed More Often In Urban Areas
• Exhibit 32: "Which customer segments will be addressed by WiMAX?"
• Exhibit 33: "What factors drive uptake by consumers?"
• Exhibit 34: "What applications will be enabled by WiMAX?"
• Exhibit 35: "What types of companies will deploy WiMAX?"
• Exhibit 36: "What flavor of WiMAX do you think will be deployed most often?"
• Exhibit 37: "Do you expect that there will be seamless handoff between WiMAX and 2.5/3G?"
• Exhibit 38: "What functionality is most important in a wireless network?"
• Exhibit 39: "Which will perform better, cellular or WiMAX?"
• Exhibit 40: Perception of Performance/Service Quality
• Exhibit 41: "Is WiMAX a potential complement to Wi-Fi for limited mobility?"
• Exhibit 42: "Is WiMAX a stand-alone, 'semi-mobile' system?"
• Exhibit 43: "Does WiMAX pose a threat to 3G?"
• Exhibit 44: "Do you think WiMAX will support voice?"
• Exhibit 45: "Do you think WiMAX will support voice directly to phones or through a WiMAX or WLAN phone?"
• Exhibit 46: "Do you think WiMAX is a disruptive technology?"
• Exhibit 47: "Do you think WiMAX will be used as a complement or a substitute for other fixed or mobile solutions?"
• Exhibit 48: "Will WiMAX complement or substitute DSL or cable?"
• Exhibit 49: Fixed Wireless Broadband Subscriber Projections
• Exhibit 50: WiMAX (802.16d) Projections, 2005-2012
• Exhibit 51: Breakdown of Broadband Lines, 2012 61
• Exhibit 52: Pyramid's Optimistic WiMAX (802.16d) Projections, 2005-2012
• Exhibit 53: High-Bandwidth Mobile Subscribers, 2005-2012
• Exhibit 54: WiMAX (802.16e) Projections, 2005-2012
• Exhibit 55: Wi-Fi vs. WiMAX: Local vs. Metro
• Exhibit 56: Global WLAN Hot Spot Forecasts, 2002-2009
• Exhibit 57: Global Wi-Fi Users, 2002-2009
• Exhibit 58: Global Wi-Fi Subscriptions, 2002-2009