'More than 100m' WiMAX subscribers by 2013

There will be more than 100 million WiMAX subscribers by 2013, but HSPA will still be ahead with more than a billion, according to a new report.

Research from Informa Telecoms and Media revealed that there will be 103 million WiMAX subscribers in five years time, with the battle between it and HSPA a 'tale of two markets'.

WiMAX is currently having a mixed time, as it has achieved large growth in the last year, but the problem for it is its rival has had even more success, while another new technology, LTE, has also received support from some big companies.

"The converging broadband market has changed dramatically in the last year due to the rise of HSDPA [a 3G part of the HSPA family] and the acceleration of LTE," said Informa's principal analyst Mike Roberts.

"There's no doubt that Mobile WiMAX has come of age in the last year with the launch of major new services... but it now faces a tough fight with HSDPA and eventually LTE in key markets."

He added that this may cause WiMAX suppliers and operators to rethink their business plans.