Europe
Ireland : Research and Markets has announced the addition of Emerging
Wireless 2006 to their offering. The recent certification of commercial
WiMAX gear represents a major milestone for the 802.16 industry but
competition looms from existing and evolving IP based wireless technologies.
Alternatives to WiMAX such as FLASH-OFDM, UMTS-TDD and in some cases
TD-SCDMA or HSDPA are being considered worldwide, according to the just
published study, "Emerging Wireless 2006."
"Right now the competitive
scenario suggests a fragmented market with diverse opportunities for
vendors and operators alike," said report author Andy Fuertes.
"WiMAX backers are expected to establish a healthy marketplace
in the fixed marketplace and also within certain mobile segments,
particularly in those nations deploying basic telecommunications infrastructure.
Many opportunities still remain outside of WiMAX in both the fixed
space and in the next generation of mobile networks. Some of these
will bring more dollars to the table than we see WiMAX bringing in."
Shipments of WiMAX customer
premise equipment is expected to reach 7.2 million units in 2010,
according to the study, but these shipments will be dwarfed by TD-SCDMA
shipments. The Chinese standard is expected to be up and running in
networks by year-end 2006 and will serve 100 million subscribers in
China by 2010, where the lion's share of TD-SCDMA subscribers will
reside.
Also according to the study,
FLASH-OFDM subscribers are expected to exceed 13 million in 2010 while
UMTS FDD radio shipments are projected to be valued at $2 billion
that year.
"Emerging Wireless
2006" examines opportunities presented by recent and forthcoming
wireless platforms, including next generation IP-based wireless technologies,
TD-SCDMA and HSDPA. It also looks the criteria and various definitions
of next generation networks(NGN) and fourth generation wireless (4G).
Fixed and mobile markets are considered and assessed.
Analysis is provided for
802.16, 802.20, HSDPA and subsequent UMTS releases, UMTS TDD, TD-SCDMA,
proprietary broadband wireless technologies and FLASH-OFDM. Developments
in Japan are also monitored and the future role of technologies such
as intelligent antennas, OFDM, software defined radio, and mesh networking
is assessed.
Subscribers, device shipments,
and base station deployments are quantified and detailed and a comparative
analysis of these technologies is provided.