Study: WiMAX Opens Mobility Door For Traditional Telcos

Traditional fixed-line telecom operators will deploy WiMAX wireless broadband, which will eventually enable those carriers to offer mobile voice and data services, according to a study released Thursday by Pyramid Research.

In the short-term, that means WiMAX will be sold as a fixed broadband service and also will serve as backhaul for other services such as Wi-Fi hotspots. Eventually -- probably around 2007 -- telecom vendors will embrace mobile WiMAX. The standard for mobile WiMAX -- 802.16e -- is at least a year away from ratification.

However, the eventual adoption of mobile WiMAX will, " provide fixed providers with the capability to offer mobility services and compete for mobile data market share," report author Ozgur Aytar said in a statement.

As a result, mobile WiMAX customers will grow at an annual compounded rate of 64 percent between 2009 and 2012, the study predicted.