WiMAX set to explode
A new report into WiMAX implementation across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region has estimated that there will be massive growth in the use of the technology over the next four years.
Currently, revenues stand at around £29 million across the region but it is expected to reach £275 million by 2012, according to the study by analyst firm Springboard Research.
WiMAX is a "final-mile" technology, delivering internet access to the end user.
It stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access and is a way of providing wireless data in a variety of ways.
It is attractive to business as part of a continuity plan, meaning that if a company has both fixed and wireless internet connections, work can continue in the event of an outage on one or the other of the sources.
Currently, Pakistan has most users across the world after Wanteen telecom rolled out the technology across 17 cities.
But India is likely to over take Pakistan to become the leading market in APAC with 15.8 million WiMAX subscribers expected by 2012.
Almost half (46.7 per cent) of users in the region will be from India, making it responsible for around 35.7 per cent of revenues across APAC.
The Indian government had targeted a figure of 9 million users for 2008 but the country has fallen short of that number by some way at only 3.4 million.
Despite this, by 2012, India should have some 15.8 million subscribers and work by the government and technology firms BSNL and Tata Communications should help build a platform for the users.
This will be based on an improved broadband infrastructure, which will be required in any country looking to roll out the last-mile technology.
Mobile WiMAX is expected to be the driving force behind the growth and Springboard Research director Bryan Wang says it is an interesting time for technology.
"The next couple of years will be critical for WiMAX growth in Asia Pacific, and during that time, we are expecting services to be available for end users in over 10 countries," he said.
"The majority of WiMAX subscribers will be from Korea, Pakistan, India and Australia.
"At the same time, billions of dollars of investment is going to be spent on WiMAX infrastructures over the next five years, which also creates a big potential market for telecom equipment manufacturers."
The progression of the technology will be watched by business leaders across the world, wondering if they are witnessing the next big step in the evolution of communications technology.
The term, WiMAX, was created in June 2001 by the WiMAX forum, which was formed to promote conformance and interoperability of the standard.
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