Communications market research firm Infonetics Research reported recently that the worldwide WiMAX equipment market, including fixed and mobile WiMAX equipment, increased 59% sequentially to US$363 million in the first quarter of this year. Infonetics' report indicates the surge in the market was led by especially strong mobile WiMAX (802.16e) equipment sales, which jumped 141% this quarter to overtake revenue from fixed WiMAX (802.16d) equipment for the first time.

"A significant number of new mobile WiMAX networks began rollout in the first quarter, and existing networks continued to scale up, driving sales in the first quarter. We expect healthy growth for the evolving mobile WiMAX market, which is seeing strong adoption not only from tier-2 and tier-3 carriers, but from tier-1 nationwide operators as well, like Sprint-Clearwire in the US, SK Telecom and KT in South Korea, Wateen in Pakistan, BSNL in India, and Vodafone and Orange in new territories," said Richard Webb, wireless analyst for Infonetics Research.

Motorola took the lead in overall WiMAX revenues in the first quarter after increasing its worldwide mobile revenue share by 10 points, and the company was the first vendor to exceed US$50 million in mobile WiMAX revenues in a single quarter, according to Infonetics' estimates.

Alvarion continues to lead in worldwide fixed WiMAX equipment revenue share, but is getting a run for its money by Telsima, which increased its revenues in the first quarter.

The nascent mobile WiMAX phone and Ultra Mobile PC segments showed early traction, together increasing 171% sequentially in the first quarter. These devices have appealing, non-traditional form factors and capabilities and will play a major role in attracting new subscribers to mobile WiMAX networks. The number of fixed and mobile WiMAX subscribers topped two million worldwide in 2007 and is expected to triple by the end of 2008.

Source:DIGITIMES