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4G race is more complex than many realize
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Though a Nokia executive recently hinted that WiMAX is bound for the scrap-heap of history, the reality is much more complicated, according to Maravedis analyst Robert Syputa. What is done with the network, he contends, "is becoming more important to the end customer than the technology that runs it," meaning that "a shift in openness is needed, and will increasingly be demanded." Syputa contends that WiMAX has acted as a "Trojan horse" for the wireless industry by opening up a market that has traditionally hidden behind a walled garden of exclusivity. Commentary
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Posted by Anonymous | April 21, 2009 - 12:49am
I hope the readers of FierceWireless read the full commentary by Mr. Syputa and make their own conclusions - I have rarely read as confused report as this. To comment just a few:
I fully agree with Mr. Syputa's statement that "what is done with the network is becoming more important to the end customer than the technology that runs it (the network itself)". Yet I can't see why he makes WiMAX to be the Trojan horse or a driving force for openness. Obviously LTE can support the legacy telecom model (which he hates so much) and WiMAX can't, but what stops anyone copying Clear's business model to LTE? How is the network tech relevant here?
In his view mobile industry would not be compelled to develop without competition from WiMAX, the tech he says "has yet to gain momentum" and deployments are "a small fraction of those of traditional mobile networks". I'd love to see him explain how this works out.
He also claims that "WiMAX does not care what operating system runs on whatever device that is used to access it." How is that any different from CDMA, WCDMA or LTE?
And finally, one should not mix China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile.
Posted by Anonymous | April 21, 2009 - 10:37pm
WiMax had the edge until the imbeciles at Sprint ruined it.
Friends don't let friends use Sprint wireless.
Posted by Anonymous | April 22, 2009 - 8:15pm
What is important is a faster US rollout which means not double-blanketing the country in 2 standards and putting multiple towers for each carrier when you can just cross-license and get the country blanketed quickly. It is what made 3G a nightmare and it is time to grow the hell up a bit.
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