WiMAX Product Aspects..

The ultimate goal of the WiMAX Forum is to accelerate the introduction of cost-effective broadband wireless access services into the marketplace. Standards-based, interoperable solutions enable economies of scale that, in turn, drive price and performance levels unachievable by proprietary approaches, making WiMAX Forum Certified™ products cost-effective at delivering broadband services on a wide scale. Designed for carrier-class deployments as well as low-cost, license-exempt deployments, WiMAX Forum Certified™ systems deliver high-capacity service throughput (up to 36 Mbps in a 10MHz channel) and provide a range of up to five kilometers in near to non-line-of-sight conditions. The systems are scalable for up to thousands of users, and because they are interoperable, service providers will be able to purchase equipment from more than one vendor, thereby reducing the overall risk and creating a price-competitive marketplace.

For enterprises, WiMAX can provide a cost-effective broadband access alternative. Since most businesses are not zoned for cable, their only option for broadband service is from the local telco, creating a monopoly situation. The ease of deployment for WiMAX Forum Certified™ systems can benefit enterprises by bringing new competition into the marketplace and lowering prices, or by enabling enterprises to set up their own private networks. This is especially relevant for industries like gas, mining, agriculture, transportation, construction and others that operate in remote locations.
For some residential customers in suburban and rural areas (where DSL or cable modem service is not available), WiMAX can provide the ability to finally have the broadband access they need. This is particularly true in developing countries, where traditional telecom infrastructure is not readily accessible.

The first generation of WiMAX Forum Certified™ CPEs are outdoor-installable subscriber stations akin to a small satellite dish. These became available in 2005 and are priced around $500. The second generation of CPEs are indoor self-installable modems similar to a cable or DSL modem and are priced around $300. Third-generation CPEs will be integrated into laptops and other portable devices, are expected to initially cost approximately $100 and are expected to be available in 2007.