WiMax to challenge 3G
Cisco says wireless metropolitan area specification WiMax could potentially be a challenger to 3G cellular networks for some high-speed data applications, but expects mass market acceptance of the technology is up to four or five years away.
“WiMax now is like where we were with WiFi in 1999… with the standards just coming in place” says Sun.
Cisco’s predictions about the adoption curve for the overall WiMax market are similar to what others have already laid out. Sun expects to see initial fixed-wireless WiMax products — using the 802.16-2004 (née 802.16d) specification — on the market at the end of 2005 or early 2006.
Initial mobile WiMax products — using the 802.16e specification — should hit the market in 2006 or 2007. Mobility and cheaper customer equipment should help to drive consumer interest, hopefully leading to mass market uptake by 2009 or 2010.