I think there's another disconnect that's happening here. WiMAX networks can be built by almost anyone with a thick enough pipe to connect to. It's not a telephone protocol, it's more like WiFi, except that unlike WiFi, it's actually possible to cover large areas with WiMAX.
LTE, on the other hand, is very much a cellphone system - which means you have to have a cellphone network already in place to implement it. That means the same players doing the same thing, charging the same rates and still thinking the way cellcos think.
Even if we concede WiMAX isn't as 'advanced' as LTE (and that has yet to be proven), WiMAX is here now and is actually working. Rates for access are more inline with broadband ISP rates.
I think WiMAX has a very good chance of knocking even traditional cell PHONE markets on its ear, let alone mobile data. I think LTE will be more of the same, just faster and more expensive.
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I think there's another disconnect that's happening here. WiMAX networks can be built by almost anyone with a thick enough pipe to connect to. It's not a telephone protocol, it's more like WiFi, except that unlike WiFi, it's actually possible to cover large areas with WiMAX.
LTE, on the other hand, is very much a cellphone system - which means you have to have a cellphone network already in place to implement it. That means the same players doing the same thing, charging the same rates and still thinking the way cellcos think.
Even if we concede WiMAX isn't as 'advanced' as LTE (and that has yet to be proven), WiMAX is here now and is actually working. Rates for access are more inline with broadband ISP rates.
I think WiMAX has a very good chance of knocking even traditional cell PHONE markets on its ear, let alone mobile data. I think LTE will be more of the same, just faster and more expensive.