WiMAX is arguably even more important for the fixed broadband wireless segment than mobile broadband, at least internally to that industry. It seems clear that mobile broadband wireless holds the loftier long term monetary and customer growth potential. However, the fixed wireless segment has been fragmented essentially since its inception. There are no cohesive standards for outdoor metropolitan area networks beyond the adapted Wi-Fi technologies. Wi-Fi as a standard has been accepted in broad strokes by the industry and the public. However, it is not a well conceived citywide technology.
This industry has languished due to the inability to foment a cohesive technology strategy. Innovative features were restricted to individual brands with the result that numerous innovations if combined would have greatly improved results for all. Since most fixed broadband wireless systems in the US rely primarily upon unlicensed band technology, the potential for WiMAX to impact this segment, albeit a small segment did not appear very good. However, the advent of fixed WiMAX radio systems in the 3.65 GHz bands in the US that have been adapted from licensed band 3.5 GHz technology originally designed for European and Asian markets offers real hope for WiMAX impact in the US. Due to the number of adherents for the technology LTE will certainly play a major if not dominant part in the mobile broadband wireless equation.
