Skip to main content

WiMAX Carriers Try to Differentiate Services

Clearwire, the U.S. wireless service provider, has announced that it had received FCC approval for a WiMAX laptop card. Motorola will manufacture the card for Clearwire, which is expected by Clearwire to be available during the second half of 2007.

In-Stat believes that there are two significant developments coming from this announcement. First, Clearwire appears to be starting to take steps to differentiate its service from other existing broadband providers. With portability, Clearwire can offer a broadband service that breaks down the artificial wall between the home and away Internet experience.

This gives Clearwire a way to differentiate itself from current service offerings which are either strictly for a fixed or portable experience. Service differentiation is important as Clearwire needs to find a way to win customers away from incumbent broadband providers.

Generally there are only two ways to do that -- either be cheaper or be different. For a company that has yet to turn a profit and is still building out its initial network, lowering prices is not a wise approach. Being different, which portability will do for Clearwire, can be much more profitable.

The other significant development from the recent announcement comes from Motorola's WiMAX efforts. Motorola has positioned itself as a key infrastructure vendor to two of the most high profile WiMAX deployments in the world, Sprint and Clearwire.

All the while the company has yet to gain any significant market share in WiMAX equipment. Usually marquee wins go to dominant players in a market, however with WiMAX that has not been the case. In-Stat believes it indicates how the WiMAX world is about to change.

While there are hundreds of WiMAX deployments, most have been small in scope using equipment from vendors specializing in the technology. With the Sprint and Clearwire commitment to deploy WiMAX networks, the infrastructure market will quickly eclipse the $170+ million mark reached in 2006.

Also, the vendors that dominated market share in 2006 will soon see themselves replaced by more traditional telecom equipment vendors, such as Motorola. The original equipment pioneers of WiMAX -- Alvarion, Aperto, and Redline have yet to win a role in either Sprint's or Clearwire's deployments. However, all is not bad for those companies -- In-Stat expects they will continue to grow their revenues, even as their market share decreases.

Popular posts from this blog

Industrial and Manufacturing Technology Growth

In an evolving era of rapid advancement, market demand for innovative technology in the industrial and manufacturing sectors is skyrocketing. Leaders are recognizing the immense potential of digital transformation and are driving initiatives to integrate technologies into their business operations.  These initiatives aim to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and ultimately drive growth and competitiveness in an increasingly digital business upward trajectory. The industrial and manufacturing sectors have been the backbone of the Global Networked Economy, contributing $16 trillion in value in 2021. Industrial and Manufacturing Tech Market Development   This growth represents a 20 percent increase from 2020, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of these sectors in the face of unprecedented challenges, according to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research . The five largest manufacturing verticals -- automotive, computer and electronic, primary metal, food, and machinery -

Rise of AI-Enabled Smart Traffic Management

The demand for smart traffic management systems has grown due to rising urban populations and increasing vehicle ownership. With more people and cars concentrated in cities, problems like traffic congestion, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions are pressing issues. Since the early 2000s, government leaders have been exploring ways to leverage advances in IoT connectivity, sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics to address these transportation challenges. The concept of a Smart City emerged in the 2010s, with smart mobility and intelligent traffic management as key components.  Smart Traffic Management Market Development Concerns about continued climate change, as well as cost savings from improved traffic flow, have further motivated local government investment in these advanced systems. According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, they found that by 2028, smart traffic management investment will be up by 75 percent from a 2023 figure of

How Generative AI Will Reshape the Economy

The Global Networked Economy -- a term synonymous with the interconnectedness of businesses, individuals, and governments worldwide -- has undergone a remarkable transformation in 2023. Fueled by the rapid growth of digital technologies and the global internet, this phenomenon has given rise to a worldwide marketplace that has already revolutionized the way we live, work, and play. The impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in 2024 will be equally disruptive to many traditional business leaders. GenAI will also create huge opportunities for the fearless pioneers. Global Networked Economy Market Development The Global Networked Economy's evolution traces back to the advent of the Public Internet. The introduction of eCommerce, social media, and cloud computing has been instrumental in reshaping how businesses operate and engage with their customers. This interconnected ecosystem empowers savvy leaders to access new markets, trim operational costs, enhance commercial e