The WiMax Forum released its latest forecast for networks worldwide. It stated that WiMax service providers cover more than 620 million people in 147 countries. They are on track to surpass 800 million people by the end of 2010. The WiMax Forum expects this to increase to over one billion people by the end of 2011.
“WiMAX networks continue to expand at a very healthy pace despite challenges from the slowly recovering global economy,” said Ron Resnick, president and chairman of the WiMAX Forum. “These new deployment numbers and population statistics demonstrate that the WiMAX ecosystem has strong momentum for the start of the New Year and will continue to meet the global market demand for high-speed broadband access in developed and emerging regions.”
The Asia Pacific region leads with coverage area with more than 237 million people covered over 100 WiMax networks. Central and Latin America have reached 113 million people with 209 deployments. Africa and the Middle East covers more than 108 million people with 153 deployments. Europe covers 115 million people with 153 deployments.
North American WiMax coverage area has increased to 47 million people covered over 51 networks. This has been primarily done by Clearwire, which has 27 networks in major markets like Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Chicago and Honolulu. It offers Clear, a wireless broadband connection that can be used anywhere within the network.
“Clearwire plans to continue rolling out our 4G network to additional markets in 2010 with the launch of service in several large metro areas, including New York, Houston and the San Francisco Bay area – ultimately reaching up to 120 million people by the end of 2010,” said Ali Tabassi, senior vice president of global ecosystem and standards for Clearwire Corporation and WiMAX Forum Board member. “The expansion of our footprint will help meet the pent up demand for true mobile broadband in the U.S. and allow us to continue to serve as a global resource for best practices in 4G network development around the world.”
WiMax continues to grow in Europe thanks to more spectrum space made available in 2009. Ireland is a perfect example of this, gaining access 3.4/3.6 mHz spectrum in the third quarter of 2009 and building a national network. Imagine launched commercial services last month and will offer nomadic WiMax services through dual mode WiMax/HSPA dongles and embedded laptops. The company expects to have 60 percent of the population of the Emerald Island covered by the end of 2010.
The increase in coverage footprints by the end of 2009 are proof that the 800 million people reached by the end of 2010 will be met or surpassed because of the launches of WiMax in India and network deployment in the Philippines and Indonesia.
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