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Airspan can do what it wants
Statements by Airspan's Paul Senior regarding an FDD WiMAX profile have been met with displeasure by the WiMAX Forum™. The truth is, Airspan can do what it wants.
In an earlier blog I reported on Paul Senior's statements regarding an FDD WiMAX profile for which the WiMAX Forum™ denied such a profile was imminent. While the WiMAX Forum™ works hard to promote WiMAX products, it has little sway over Airspan's or any other member's product line.
Given the embryonic nature of the WiMAX market, especially in the US, sub-$100 million companies like Airspan, Redline or Telsima will have to produce what sells. Given there are hundreds of AWS and 700 MHz spectrum (FDD in nature) holders in the US (not counting the 200+ bidders on the current auction) and that most of them are established service providers (most of them with wireless operations), why would a vendor NOT pursue this lucrative market with the appropriate FDD WiMAX profile?
Promoting an FDD WiMAX into the AWS and 700 MHz markets can do two things for WiMAX vendors: a) provide a very sharp elbow to the legacy cellular industry which has not provided significant product for this market and b) crack open the most lucrative telecom market in the world for WiMAX by providing a product for which US service providers have already collectively spent tens of billions of dollars on spectrum (AWS + multiple 700 MHz auctions).
"Lead, follow or get the heck out of the way!"
Frank Ohrtman
WMX Systems, LLC
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tags:
WiMAX Forum
The CellCO also want to keep WiMAX in the 2.5Ghz space so they can compete with them for universal coverage. The 2.5Ghz based products will struggle to provide coverage in the Rural markets due to the limitations of the spectrum in heavy foliage areas.
If these upstart local providers aggressively go after use and use the 700Mhz with the great WiMAX features they will dominate the Broadband Data Wireless space for years to come-setting back the CellCO efforts with their new Lite technologies.
Keep in mind that many Local Service Providers (WISP and Independant Telcos) will bid and win 700Mhz Spectrum in the local (CMA) Markets and be looking for these new 700Mhz as well as the emerging White Space Spectrum systems to deploy. In short they will not need a Nationwide Standard based product like the big Carriers require.
It will be a fascinating next 12 months.
Jim A