APPLICATION PROVIDERS
WiMAX has already revolutionized the broadband wireless market by standardizing broadband wireless access market, by opening up new service opportunities and by creating the environment for ubiquitous broadband services.
The aim is to provide the service that best fits the individual’s needs. Applications can be developed in house by the service providers, outsourced from other companies or developed and sold directly to the end user by an independent applications development company.
Applications are based on IP, and IP applications are sent back or forth via WiMAX. This allows the users to develop applications independently from the underlying network infrastructure. Some applications will still be developed by operators but the vast majority will come from those working directly in the Internet crowd. For them and for the end users competing wireless technologies are very beneficial. Competition spurs network roll outs, offers possibility for new players in the market, and creates competition between device manufacturers. Also, new applications will be introduced more easily and much more quickly as they are no longer forced into a tight framework that takes long time to develop and from which it is difficult to get out again.
WIMAX CUSTOMERS
Prospective WiMAX customers can be grouped either geographically or by the level or volume of services. Geographical categories range from urban to rural customers, while categories according to size include individual customers and the corporate customers. Urban areas offer the highest density of customers with more business establishments. In such cases a higher number of cells which are small in size are required to meet the capacity requirements. These are the areas where more competition is expected. Rural areas are expected to have a lower penetration of customers, less corporate customers, and bigger cell sizes because emphasis is on coverage rather than capacity. Individual subscribers will use WiMAX for music downloads, interactive gaming, and personal broadband Internet, and will form a large percentage the total subscribers.
Corporate subscribers are also expected to contribute to revenues of WiMAX, and their interest will be in applications and services which will enhance their organizations apart from the basic telecommunications services.
Companies are poised to compete with each other in WiMAX network deployment, which will ensure that the prices will be competitive
