Study: Mobile WiMax faces challenges

Mobile WiMax is "unfeasible" as a mobile access technology, a research company has stated.

According to Frost & Sullivan, the technology - which has a wider reach and bandwidth than conventional Wi-Fi - faces several challenges that are likely to make it unsuccessful as a form of mobile access.

The report noted that problems for the technology occur when challenges from dual Wi-Fi/ cellular mobile phones arise. It also observed that 97 per cent of all laptops currently carry only Wi-Fi technology.

Frost & Sullivan program manager Luke Thomas believes that 2009 will be the year that operators begin to realise that WiMax can no longer be considered feasible.

"In terms of indoor wireless broadband, Wi-Fi fits well in this space and with the emergence of 802.11n, which includes MIMO, throughputs would be far better than what Mobile WiMax can deliver," he said.

Sprint and Clearwire announced in May that they would combine their WiMax businesses to encourage the technology's advancement - industry giants including Intel and Google backed the merger with $3.2 billion in investments.