WiMax Could Fill a Big Niche in the LTE Era, Finds Pyramid

PRNewswire
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.
(:UBM.L)
Jan 7, 2010

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Although LTE will clearly dominate 4G network deployments over the next five years, WiMax will continue thriving as a strong technology option for certain markets and applications, with worldwide subscribers growing nearly tenfold by the end of 2014, to about 53 million users, according to the latest report from Pyramid Research.

WiMax and LTE: The Case for 4G Coexistence analyzes the current WiMax operations worldwide, evaluating operator business models, network economics and the overall market opportunity relative to UMTS/HSPA and LTE. This 77-page report assesses which technology is suitable for the profitable delivery of mobile broadband services, today and moving forward, in different market environments and for different types of operators. As LTE emerges as the dominant 4G technology, this report helps operators determine whether to invest in WiMax or HSPA, or wait for LTE. Case studies examine UQ Communications (in Japan), Clearwire (the U.S.), Mobily (Saudi Arabia), Digicel (Caribbean), Tata (India), Umniah (Jordan), and Yota (Russia).

Once thought of as disruptive of the mobile communications world, WiMax has begun to carve out a tight niche tied to certain target opportunities, including emerging markets, rural, and underserved areas that lack broadband coverage and businesses, notes Dan Locke, Senior Analyst at Pyramid Research and author of the report. "In contrast, LTE has quickly gained momentum; the world's largest MNOs have already chosen LTE, and some have begun aggressively deploying the technology this year," he says. "Going forward, LTE will be the most commonly deployed OFDMA-based standard, and since WiMax (802.16e) and LTE (release 8) will provide similar real-world performance, ultimately the decisions of the largest WiMax players may determine the fate of WiMax," he adds.

WiMAX and LTE: The Case for 4G Coexistence is part of Pyramid's research report series. A blend of primary research and qualitative analysis, Pyramid's research reports offer comprehensive coverage of the fixed and mobile communications space and enable those in the communications industry to stay ahead of changing market dynamics. This report is priced at $2490 and can be purchased online here (http://www.pyramidresearch.com/store/RPWiMAXandLTE.htm?sc=PRN011110_WMXLTE) or by contacting Amalia Vega at avega@pyr.com or telephone at +1-619-229-9940.

For more information about Pyramid Research's products and services, please visit www.pyr.com or contact us at info@pyr.com.

About Pyramid Research

Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com) offers practical solutions to the complex demands our clients face in the telecommunications, media and technology industries. Our analysis is uniquely positioned at the intersection of emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models, powered by the bottom-up methodology of our market forecasts for over 100 countries - a distinction that has remained unmatched for more than 25 years. As the telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network, Pyramid Research works with Heavy Reading, providing the communications industry's most comprehensive market data, trusted research and insightful technology analysis.

About Light Reading

Founded in 2000, Light Reading (www.lightreading.com) is the leading online media, research, and focused event company serving the $3 trillion worldwide communications market. Lightreading.com is the ultimate source for technology and financial analysis of the communications industry, leading the media sector in terms of traffic, content, and reputation. Light Reading's research arms, Heavy Reading and Pyramid Research, provide the most comprehensive communications research, market data, and technology analysis in close to 100 markets around the world. Light Reading produces nearly 20 targeted communications events including TelcoTV, Ethernet Expo New York and Ethernet Expo London, The Tower Summit @ CTIA, and Optical Expo, as well as focused one-day events tailored for cable, mobile, and wireline executives. Light Reading was acquired by United Business Media in August 2005 and operates as a unit of TechWeb.

About TechWeb

TechWeb (http://techweb.com/aboutus), the global leader in business technology media, is an innovative business focused on serving the needs of technology decision-makers and marketers worldwide. TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed media brands in the business technology market. Today, more than 13.3 million* business technology professionals actively engage in our communities created around our global face-to-face events, Interop, Web 2.0, Black Hat, and VoiceCon; online resources such as the TechWeb Network, Light Reading, Intelligent Enterprise, InformationWeek.com, bMighty.com, and The Financial Technology Network; and the market leading, award-winning InformationWeek, TechNet Magazine, MSDN Magazine, and Wall Street & Technology magazines. TechWeb also provides end-to-end services including next-generation performance marketing, integrated media, research, and analyst services. TechWeb is a division of United Business Media, a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $2.5 billion.

*13.3 million business decision-makers: based on number of monthly connections

About United Business Media Limited

UBM (UBM.L) focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetization of B2B communities and markets. UBM's businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities -- from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewelry traders, from farmers to pharmacists -- with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently. For more information, go to http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com.


    Press contact:
    Jennifer Baker
    +1 617 871-1910
    jbaker@pyr.com

SOURCE: Pyramid Research

Web site: http://www.pyr.com/