WiMAX market up 20%, has yet to reach tipping point

The global Broadband Wireless Access/WiMAX subscriber base reached nearly 1.8 million during the fourth quarter, according to figures from research firm Maravedis in its WiMAX Counts Quarterly Report.
“Even with an increase of more than 20% in WiMAX subscribers in the last quarter of 2007, operators are still waiting for the tipping point that will lead to acceleration of WiMAX adoption and deployments,” said Adlane Fellah, CEO and founder of Maravedis. “The key factors mainly center on certification of mobile WiMAX equipment, a reduction in CPE pricing and the emergence of a device ecosystem.”
The firm said many operators are delaying network expansion until 802.16e equipment certification is available.
The study also found more than 800,000 subscribers were using equipment that was certified by the WiMAX Forum at the end of last year. And out of all customer premises equipment deployed, nearly one-third used 802.16-2004 technology, while 11.7% used 802.15-2005 technology and more than half were based on proprietary technology.
WiMAX service revenues reached $1 billion last year, according to the firm. Average revenue per user was about $46.30 for residential subscribers and $144.09 for business subscribers, said Maravedis.