Process, Promise, Problems: Developing WiMAX as an International Standard

摘要

The WiMAX set of wireless broadband standards (IEEE 802.16x) represents a joint effort between a traditional standards development organization and industry stakeholders, with facilitation and leadership by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This hybrid approach seems to have added significant value to the overall development effort, and to have hastened commercialization and market development of WiMAX technology and services. This paper describes the process by which WiMAX evolved and explores its market potential and impact on public and private stakeholders. Although WiMAX shows great promise as an internet protocol native, high quality, high throughput wireless pipe with greater range than competing existing technologies, the future of the technology is not ensured due to technical, business, and standards competition issues. Still, an industrial and business ecosystem capable of ensuring some role for WiMAX, in peripherals as well as 4G telephony, is rapidly emerging.