“There is controversy surrounding this technology because it is not the only broadband option out there,” said Connie Wong, Semico's director of wireless communications, in a statement. “However, the establishment of global standards, the ability to provide higher throughput and high reliability to the customer, and affordable services in the form of low-priced [customer premises equipment] will catapult WiMAX into the driver’s seat if met.”

According to Semico (Phoenix), WiMAX is poised do for broadband what cellular has done for phones—make broadband mobile. Semico believes that WiMAX will become part of a number of networks, providing broadband wireless access in rural areas, offering backhaul services, offloading data traffic and making broadband mobile, the firm said.

Semico's most recent WiMAX forecast, which includes both base stations and customer premises equipment, found that the market is poised to grow from 6,000 units in 2005 to nearly 4.3 million units in 2010, a compound annual growth rate of more than 268 percent. The forecast is featured in the firm’s study entitled. "WiMAX, Wireless Expands its Boundaries."

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