Major infrastucture supplier calls it: LTE over WiMAX
By Chris Ziegler 
posted February 4th 2010 4:43AM
posted February 4th 2010 4:43AM
If you're Clearwire or Sprint right now, the last thing you want to hear is one of the world's major suppliers of wireless infrastructure badmouthing the very technology that underpins your next-gen network -- so we imagine there's some groaning in the hallways and boardrooms of the world's WiMAX carriers today. Why? Alcatel-Lucent's COO of its wireless business, Patrick Plas, has pulled no punches in a statement this week that the firm is "not putting a lot of effort into [WiMAX] any longer" after noticing that there's "a clear direction taken by the industry towards LTE." Of course, it doesn't take an analyst to notice that Europe, Asia, and virtually every carrier in the Americas have all taken on a decidedly pro-LTE slant in the past couple years, and these guys are just following the money -- which in turn makes it harder (and more expensive) for the handful of WiMAX proponents with deployed networks to build out and stay technologically current. In the race to actual 4G commercialization, LTE's still got a ton of catching-up to do -- but once it does, it's looking poised to blow past WiMAX pretty quickly here. In the meantime, we'll be loving our Overdrives.
Things keep getting worse for Sprint
How is LTE going to blow past WiMax? 802.16m is comparable to LTE speeds.
(Written using Clear uncapped 4G 10Mps+ connection)
How come people keep talking about LTE. LTE doesn't have a frequency band (still being used by PCS), chip manufacturer, or a carrier already using it. All I ever here about LTE is "loose specs" and "it's gonna be awesome when we figure out what it is". This is total bullshit posturing, WiMax is the only system actually deployed overseas- it is called WiMax and WiBro. WiMax is deployed already in 81 COUNTRIES including the U.S. So which carriers are actually using a 4G LTE netork?
Wimax Manufacturer List:
Intel
Motorola
Qualcomm
LTE Manufacturer Lists and Deployments:
@theprophet84
TeliaSonera has an LTE network up.
AT&T, Verizon, Bell Mobile, Telus, MetroPCS, and China Unicom/Telcom are all committed to the technology. Verizon will almost certainly have 20 or more markets up by the end of 2010.
Just AT&T, Verizon, and Bell have 182.1 Million subscribers in North America.
While not certain there are other indications from T-Mobile including the natural GSM evolution path that could add another 33.4 Million subscribers in the US, or 150 Million worldwide.
GSM is, outside of the U.S. and Canada one of the only used standards for telcoms. As I mentioned above LTE is the natural evolution path of GSM.
I live in Seattle WA and have been using CLEAR for 3 years. As a service WIMAX is just as capable as LTE. It is plenty fast and has the support on many big corporations. Chris Z, you wrote an article 3 months ago stating the CLEAR WIMAX network could be converted to LTE with a software upgrade;
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/16/clearwire-says-its-not-married-to-wimax-for-4g-would-be-easy-t/
If WIMAX and LTE networks are capable of running on the same hardware then how are Patrick Plas's comments relevant? I love reading about 'theoritical speeds' and 'backwards compatability' of LTE networks but the LTE v.s. WIMAX 'fight!' is old news.
CDMA has survived with less support than what WiMax currently enjoys. So who's to say both technologies can't co-exist?
what ever! Wimax kicks ass... For now. N even after LTE is fully fixed n twigged. Wimax technology well only need a software update to convert into lte.... Sprint is the shitznetss
@saddam3
Sprint is amazing.
It's fair to say that LTE has the broader support of many large cellular phone companies, but likewise, Motorola also has a huge lead in providing infrastructure and equipment for WiMax. Given Alcatel-Lucent's Euro-centric nature (main headquarters in Paris), this should not surprise anyone.
I personally don't care; I'm using Clear right now typing this up. However, if LTE proved to be exceptionally cheaper, I'd jump ship. I just don't think that, for the short haul, LTE will be cheaper.
For my phone and laptop while traveling, I need uninterrupted voice and data, fallback to 2G/3G and automatic international roaming everywhere in the world. Higher data speeds are just a bonus. This is what LTE will offer once it finally arrives.
I haven't seen WiMax phone reviews, which is why I have thought of WiMax as a possible replacement for cable/adsl connection. Just don't think it's available around here (small European country).
DON'T DO IT - CLEAR DOES NOT WORK AS ADVERTISED. JUST FILED COMPLAINT WITH BBB FOR FALSE ADVERTISING!! In addition to charging my credit card TWICE with a $195 pre-authorization fee plus the $172 for equipment - (read $600 in charges when I signed up!)
Their hardware does not work with Mac hardware as advertised! They do have a fix but they will only let you pay for it at an ADDITIONAL $139 DOLLARS!!!!! Logged over 200 minutes in phones calls to get credit card refunded and try to get solution for Mac issue. They rather you cancel.
Who are these euros abanonding GSM?