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Tim Sanders: The State of WiMAX as of Late 2007

This is from the March 6 update at ITConversations.

Tim Sanders
WiMAX Evangelist and Podcaster

Tim Sanders, who heads up the consulting group The Final Mile, has been an active participant in the development of wireless broadband technology since its early days. In this interview with Tom Parish, Sanders gives us a comprehensive overview of what WiMAX is and where it is going. from both an industry and a consumer point of view.

Beginning with a summary of the evolution of WiMAX, short for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, Sanders describes how indoor WiFi technology was adapted for outdoor use to the point that operators saw the need for interoperability standards. He also explains how the WiMAX standard is now developing into two branches, one for fixed wireless and one for mobile wireless use.

How WiMAX is likely to be adopted depends on the level of existing hardwire infrastructure, and Sanders explains the implications of this for more mature markets like North America and western Europe as well as for developing markets. He discusses the economic drivers for WiMAX and the extent to which WiMAX and existing 3G technology will be both complementary and competitive.

Finally, Sanders discusses the next steps in WiMAX development and how big industry players like Sprint and AT&T are using WiMAX, and he describes the opportunities for further WiMAX development in newly opening spectrum ranges.