Figure 41:  Consumer services such as mobile TV will drive demand for WiMAX

Cell phone service providers now offer some limited mobile TV. Ultimately, the cell phone networks of today will not be able to handle the bandwidth demands posed by mo-bile TV. The video iPod from Apple has launched a revolution in TV viewing. Initially, TV viewers had to watch what programming was available when TV executives made it available (your favorite show at 7 PM on Wednesday night for example).  TV recording devices such as VHS recorders and Tivo altered the "when" scenario allowing viewers to watch "what" they wanted "when" they wanted. Video iPod and emerging mobile TV devices allow viewers to watch "what" they want, "when" they want and here comes the new part: "where" they want.

What does this have to do with WiMAX?  First, it drives demand for residential broad-band so that the consumer can download the video they want to watch. Secondly, it will facilitate live video streamed over a WiMAX connection while the viewer is mobile (commuting on a train, bus, etc).  The figure illustrates mobile TV on a cell phone.

Next Section