WiMAX Forum Projects Over 800 Million People to Have Access to WiMAX Networks by 2010

The WiMAX Forum has announced that WiMAX Service Providers now offer networks covering 430 million people, or POPS, globally and are on a path to nearly double to 800 million people by end of 2010. In addition, global WiMAX network deployments are approaching 460 in more than 135 countries for fixed, portable, and mobile networks.

"These new deployment numbers reveal the mobile Internet WiMAX ecosystem has achieved strong growth and will continue to satisfy the market demand to deliver high-speed broadband services in 2009. Certified products in the 3.5 GHz band will now give more operators access to the equipment and devices needed to deliver mobile broadband services." said Ron Resnick, president and chairman of the WiMAX Forum.

With more than 430 million POPS already covered by WiMAX services, and new spectrum licenses anticipated to be allocated in countries such as Brazil and India, WiMAX Forum expects to see accelerated growth of WiMAX's global footprint in 2009.

"After several years in development, 2008 was the year that WiMAX became a global reality," said Sean Maloney, executive vice president, Intel. "In both emerging markets and mature countries, companies and governments are deploying 4G WiMAX networks to help bridge the digital divide and bring affordable, super-fast mobile broadband to their citizens. As countries look to accelerate broadband in 2009 to address economic recovery, WiMAX is ready - it's the right technology at the right time. There is no need to wait - WiMAX is a reality today."

WiMAX Forum Certifies First 3.5GHz Products

Signaling continued WiMAX momentum, the WiMAX Forum also announced that Samsung and ZTE received the WiMAX Forum Certified seal of approval for products for the 3.5 GHz spectrum band. This milestone also marks the first of many certified products to come out of the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) lab in Korea, one of six global WiMAX Forum Designated Certification Laboratories (WFDCL).

Posted to the site on 12th February 2009