SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 25, 2007 -
Fixed WiMAX IC vendors have recently re-directed their energies towards Mobile WiMAX, particularly in the second half of 2006 and into 2007, reports In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). This represents a dramatic change, as the overwhelming majority of 2005 and 2006 WiMAX chipsets were Fixed WiMAX (802.16d)-compliant, with a very small percentage in 2006 representing chipsets used in early WiBro (mobile WiMAX-based) devices, the high-tech market research firm says.
“Fujitsu, Intel, Sequans and Wavesat were the Fixed WiMAX baseband market leaders in 2005 and 2006; all have since shifted focus to Mobile WiMAX,” says Gemma Tedesco, In-Stat analyst. “In addition, Fixed WiMAX radio providers Sierra Monolithics and Analog Devices have announced Mobile WiMAX solutions.”
Recent research by In-Stat found the following:
The global WiMAX chipset market will reach approximately 21 million units in 2011, growing from 300,000 chipset units in 2006.
Intel, the marketing heart and soul of WiMAX technology, has been working for years to build up the WiMAX vendor ecosystem. Consequently, Sprint’s announcement that it would build out a Mobile WiMAX network was a huge boost for the WiMAX movement overall, and has in turn put much pressure on Mobile WiMAX solution vendors.
Mobile WiMAX faces competition from many mobile broadband technology alternatives, such as EV-DO, HSPA, UMB, LTE, and even from Wi-Fi, particularly IEEE 802.11n.
Baseband vendors Beceem and Runcom are leaders in Mobile WiMAX, and are powering some of the early WiBro devices. Other baseband vendors with sights set specifically on Mobile WiMAX include Altair Semiconductor, Amicus, ApaceWave and Redpine Signals.
RF IC providers who have jumped straight into the Mobile WiMAX market include NXP Semiconductors, GCT Semiconductor and AsicAhead.
Recent In-Stat research, The WiMAX Chipset Market: Mobile Is Where It's At (#IN0703868WT), covers the worldwide market for WiMAX chipsets. It provides unit shipment and revenue forecasts for WiMAX Client and CPE chipsets, base station chipsets, and fixed mobile chipsets through 2011. It includes analysis of WiMAX technical standards and architecture, the competitive landscape from other technologies, and vendors competing in the WiMAX chipset space.
This report is part of In-Stat’s Cellular and Wireless Broadband Technology service, which analyzes worldwide semiconductor component trends within the Cellular, Wi-Fi, WiMAX and other emerging wireless broadband technology markets. This service provides comprehensive coverage of cellular and wireless broadband IC component markets and trends within mobile devices, Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) and infrastructure.
About the Analyst:
Gemma Tedesco, currently covers wireless broadband component technologies. She has written about a broad array of networking topics while at In-Stat, and formerly worked in product management at Inter-Tel. Key Coverage areas: Mobile Broadband Components; Wi-Fi ICs; WiMAX ICs; UMB; and LTE.
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About In-Stat
In-Stat’s market intelligence combines technical, market and end-user research and database models to analyze the Mobile Internet and Digital Entertainment ecosystems. Our insights are derived from a deep understanding of technology impacts, nearly 30 years of history in research and consulting, and direct relationships with leading players in each of our core markets. In-Stat provides its research through reports, annual subscriptions, consulting and advisory services to inform critical decisions. Technology vendors, equipment manufacturers, service providers and media companies worldwide rely on In-Stat to support critical business, product and technology decisions.
