Clash of the Titans: Harmonization of WiMAX and LTE By Robert Syputa, Senior Analyst

First, let’s make our opinion clear: harmonization of WiMAX and LTE makes good sense for the development of the industry.  Participants from both the WiMAX and LTE camp and IEEE and ETSI 3GPP standards organizations have recognized the need to collaborate on development of communications. Vodafone is among operators that have called for merging of WiMAX and LTE because this will reduce conflicts and costs for the industry. The long-term trends in technology, regulation, ecosystem consolidation and globalization contribute to the rationale that wireless systems should strive to achieve common air interfaces where feasible.  The primary obstacle to achieving harmonization of WiMAX and LTE is simply the commercial self-interests that prevent a common push forward. more…

Korea Readies Second WiBro Wave By Jeff Orr, Senior Analyst - Consumer Electronics

Amid lackluster subscriber numbers and limited network coverage, South Korea’s WiBro service is planning a resurgence. The WiBro launch in June 2006 served as the prototype for 802.16e-2005 networks. A revision to infrastructure and devices is in the works to improve network performance and coverage, conforming to the WiMAX Forum Wave 2 certification requirements. Mobile broadband adoption in Korea hasn’t been stellar. While Samsung executives we spoke with point out that the WiMAX service is outpacing the country’s W-CDMA adoption from years earlier, the numbers remain small for the broadband savvy country. Will the migration to Wave 2 WiMAX equipment be the catalyst for mobile broadband in South Korea? more…

Get the full details in the Q1 2008 WiMAXCounts Quarterly Report

• 65% of Operators are already commercial, 14% are trialing, 9% are planning their launch, 10% have idle spectrum and 2% have returned/lost spectrum.
• Clearwire USA remains the top operator in number of subscribers, with an estimated 443,000 subscribers in the United States at the end of Q1 2008, an increase of 12.5% compared to the 394,000 subscribers reported in Q4 2007.
• The split by subscriber type among WiMAXCounts operators was 65% residential and 35% business.
• The 3.3-3.8 GHz band is the most widely deployed, with 63% of WiMAXCounts operators deploying their WiMAX networks in this band in Q1 2008, compared to 70% of the Operators deploying in this band during Q4 2007.
• Q1 2008 BWA/WiMAX service revenue among WiMAXCounts operators totaled US$ 366 million, as compared to $US 303.65 million during the previous quarter, an increase of 20%.
• Q1 2008 recorded ARPU was US$ 48 and US$ 146 for residential and business subscribers.
• Motorola remains the leader in equipment deployed for both BWA/WiMAX CPEs and Base Stations

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