Lat-Am WiMAX Subcriber Base to Top 13 Million by 2012

The WiMAX Forum is projecting that more than 13 million consumers in Latin America will be WiMAX users by 2012. Additional data from this WiMAX Forum study estimates that approximately 70 percent of the forecasted WiMAX subscribers by 2012 will utilize mobile and portable WiMAX devices to access broadband Internet services.

The forecast is based on results of an independently commissioned research study published this year.

"WiMAX devices are available now for deployment worldwide delivering best in class broadband services to consumers at a cost significantly lower than any other technology" said Ron Resnick, president and Chairman of the WiMAX Forum. "Toward this end, Latin American countries have started making the commitment and taking steps to ensure wireless broadband services are a reality that enables operators to meet the regionÃ's diverse market and economic needs and growing population."

WiMAX in Latin America

Currently, there are 95 WiMAX deployments in the Caribbean and Latin American region, with 10 deployments in Brazil and seven in Peru. WiMAX is quickly taking center stage in Latin America with several key auctions expected in 2009.

• Argentina - Over 100 companies have expressed interest in purchasing licenses at the Resolution 250/2008 spectrum auction, where 3.3-3.7 GHz spectrum for WiMAX will be auctioned off.
• Colombia - The Colombian Communications Ministry expects to award spectrum licenses in 2009.
• Jamaica - The Jamaican Ministry of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce (MCT) has released information about the upcoming auction for 2.5GHz band licenses. Information released included details about 125MHz distributed for wireless broadband and 3G services, and 65MHz for subscriber TV services (STV) in the 2500MHz-2650MHz band.

"In November, the Brazilian Telecom Regulator, Anatel, requested comments and suggestions from interested parties on its drafted proposal of conditions for use and channelization of band 3.4 - 3.6 GHz allocated primarily for Mobile and Mobile Personal Services," said Resnick. "This alludes to a future auction of frequencies in that prime WiMAX band, clearing the way to intensify the WiMAX movement in Brazil and Latin American overall. We expect that this region will be a major growth area for WiMAX in the next few years."

There are currently more than 400 deployments of WiMAX networks in more than 133 counties. The WiMAX Forum also expects to have a comprehensive global roaming plan available to operators by the end of 2008.

Posted to the site on 4th December 2008