Although initial WiMAX deployments are likely to be for fixed applications, it is expected to see in the coming years more adoption of the 802.16e standard for mobile applications in WiMAX cellular networks. WiMAX technology in its IEEE 802.16e-2005 incarnation will likely be deployed by fixed operators to capture part of the wireless mobility value chain in addition to plain broadband access. As end users get accustomed to high-speed broadband at home and work, they will demand similar services in a nomadic or mobile context, and many service providers could use WiMAX to meet this demand.
In addition to higher-speed Internet access, mobile WiMAX can be used to provide voice-over-IP services in the future. The low-latency design of mobile WiMAX makes it possible to deliver VoIP services effectively. VoIP technologies may also be leveraged to provide innovative new services, such as voice chatting, push-to-talk, and multimedia chatting.
The first step toward mobility would come by simply adding nomadic capabilities to fixed broadband. Providing WiMAX services to portable devices will allow users to experience bandwidth not just at home or work but also at other locations. Users could take their broadband connection with them as they move around from one location to another. Nomadic access may not allow for seamless roaming and handover at vehicular speeds but would allow pedestrian-speed mobility and the ability to connect to the network from any location within the service area.
In many parts of the world, existing fixed-line carriers that do not own cellular, PCS, or 3G spectrum could turn to WiMAX for provisioning mobility services. As the industry moves along the path of quadruple-play service bundles—voice, data, video, and mobility—some service providers that do not have a mobility component in their portfolios—cable operators, satellite companies, and incumbent phone companies—are likely to find WiMAX attractive. For many of these companies, having a mobility plan will be not only a new revenue opportunity but also a defensive play to mitigate churn by enhancing the value of their product set.
Existing mobile operators are less likely to adopt WiMAX and more likely to continue along the path of 3G evolution for higher data rate capabilities. There may be scenarios, however, in which traditional mobile operators may deploy WiMAX as an overlay solution to provide even higher data rates in targetted urban centers or metrozones. This is indeed the case with Korea Telecom, which has begun deploying WiBro service in metropolitan areas to complement its ubiquitous CDMA2000 service by offering higher performance for multimedia messaging, video, and entertainment services. WiBro is a mobile broadband solution developed by Korea's Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) for the 2.3GHz band. In Korea, WiBro systems today provide end users with data rates ranging from 512kbps to 3Mbps. The WiBro technology is now compatible with IEEE 802.16e-2005 and mobile WiMAX.