Broadband Wireless--WiMAX

I blogged a few weeks ago about LTE rolling out and how it will compete against WiMAX. WiMAX also known as 802.16 is a wireless network for metropolitan areas. Similar to WiFI which covers a range up to 100 feet, WiMAX provides a wireless network but on a longer range anywhere from 3 to 30 miles. WiMAX has a first mover advantage over LTE as the rollouts are in advance of LTE's and is more open than LTE which could be the deciding factor in winning over LTE as the data driven market of the internet requires flexibility. The challenge for WiMAX beyond gaining traction with the market at a cost rollout that is reasonable (which everyone faces) is security. WiMAX doesn't mitigate the issues with security that WiFi faced but only extends the range of the signal a distance further. Clearwire is rolling out WiMAX service in the following ten areas: Abilene, Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Killeen/Temple, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, Waco and Wichita Falls, Texas; Bellingham, Wash; or Boise, Idaho.