WiMAX - WiFi new and improved

What’s WiMAX?

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access is basically an improvement on today’s Wi-Fi wireless networks for mobile computers and hand-helds. An economical alternative to coaxial cable and telephone lines for bringing broadband connections to homes and business – also especially beneficial for many developing nations that are looking to jump straight from no connectivity to wireless connectivity, skipping the expensive process of laying optical fibers. WiMAX is designed to extend up to 30 miles with speeds 50 times as fast (Source: Business Week)

Who’s playing?

Clearwire, a publicly traded wireless broadband ISP formed by cell phone pioneer Craig McCaw based out of Kirkland, Washington. They have grown from 1,000 customers in Sept 2004 to more than 200,000 customers as of March 2007. Clearwire uses WiMAX transmitted from mobile phone towers, currently covering 9.1 million people in more than 400 municipalities in 12 states. They also have international presense in Republic of Ireland, Belgium, Denmark and Mexico. Currently, they are offering broadband speeds of up to 2.0 Mbps. (Source: Clearwire.com)

Intel : Executive VP Sean M. Maloney has been leading a quiet revolution – an industrywide effort to develop and market WiMAX. Beginning next year, new laptop computers will come equipped with Intel’s WiMAX capable chips, code named Echo Peak. This is just the next logical step after making the Centrino line of chips that enable laptop computers to connect to Wi-Fi networks (wireless networks). Intel, along with Motorola pumped in $900 million capital in July 2006. He also proposed that the chipmaker should lay the groundwork for a mammoth WiMAX ecosystem by investing more than $1 billion in carriers and other companies.

(Source of Image: Intel Investor Relations)

Many telecoms have also placed bets on WiMAX and plan to spend $13 Billion over the next few years to build 300 such networks.
o In July, Sprint Nextel teamed up with Clearwire Corp to create a nationwide network covering 100 million potential customers by end of 2008
o Nokia has been looking to expand into providing communications services.
o Samsung Group wanted to get into the networking equipment business. They are also planning to inculcate WiMAX abilities in their cell-phones and consumer electronics.

A small group of chipmakers and network equipment companies had formed the WiMAX Forum in 2001. Today it tops 400 (Source: wimaxforum.org)
• Accenture
• Acer

• Alcatel-Lucent
• AOL
• Arab Telecom
• AT&T
• ATDI
• British Telecom
• Fujitsu
• Motorola
• Nokia
• Bell Canada
• Cisco Systems
• Clearwire
• Ericsson
• Nortel
• NextWave Wireless
• LG Electronics
• IBM
• Japan Radio
• Hitachi
• Rogers
• France Telecom
• Dell
• China Telecom
• Bharti Airtel
• Juniper Networks
• Microsoft
• Reliance Communications
• Sony Electronics