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1. Accumulated WiMAX Investments Worldwide
In 2009, WiMAX saw the acceleration of product certification and expansion of available frequency bands. It is expected that the global market and business opportunities for WiMAX services will continue to see rapid growth. Therefore, the global investments in WiMAX network deployment have been booming as well. Projections for the period 2005 to 2010 show accumulated WiMAX capital worldwide will reach about US$28.9 billion; over 60% of which - approximately US$17.0 billion - will be injected during the next two years. With the emerging markets of India, Brazil, and Russia providing considerable funding for WiMAX deployment, 2009 is seen as a crucial year for WiMAX network operations worldwide.
Source: Mobile Taiwan Applications Promotion Program Office, MOEA, compiled by MIC, April 2009
Figure 1. Worldwide Accumulated Investments in WiMAX, 2005 - 2010
2. Worldwide Commercialization Trends of WiMAX Technologies
More than 50% of all WiMAX carriers worldwide announced the adoption of 802.16e technology in 2008. In terms of subscriber coverage, 802.16 e has accounted for around 22.5% of the overall WiMAX subscriber base. This 802.16e technology is positioned to be used by existing or new networks carriers in various countries - including Clearwire of North America, UQ Communications of Japan, BSNL and MTNL of India, Neovia and Embratel of Brazil, Unwired of Australia, Yota of Russia, and Packet One Networks of Malaysia - 802.16eis the growth tool for future WiMAX subscribers.
Source: Mobile Taiwan Applications Promotion Program Office, MOEA, compiled by MIC, April 2009
Figure 2. Status of Worldwide WiMAX Spectrum Usage and Technology Adoption, 2008
3. Types of WiMAX Carriers Worldwide
There were approximately 335 carriers in 116 countries worldwide utilizing WiMAX networks in 2008. 48.3% of all WiMAX subscribers are served by ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and WISPs (Wireless ISPs), which are the most common WiMAX carrier types, followed by conventional telecoms in emerging markets. Since the coverage of fixed line networks in these regions is limited, many conventional telecoms are opting for WiMAX as their solution in deployment cost and efficiency. Furthermore, in order to boost ARPUs (Average Revenue Per User), most carriers have developed fixed voice services and plan to provide mobile voice services in the future.
Except for some carriers in North and South America, over 80% of all carriers have a subscriber base of under 10,000. Currently there are only around 50 WiMAX carriers boasting a subscriber base of over 10,000, and these 50 combined account for approximately two-thirds of the global WiMAX coverage.
Source: Mobile Taiwan Applications Promotion Program Office, MOEA, compiled by MIC, April 2009
Figure 3. Worldwide WiMAX Carriers by Type, 2008
4. Major WiMAX Investments Worldwide
Many large-scale investment projects have emerged since 2008 with the list below showing worldwide WiMAX operations up to Q1 of 2009.
| Table 1 Major WiMAX Investment Projects Worldwide, 2006-2010 |
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Location |
Carrier |
Supplier |
Project |
Amount |
| 1 |
United States |
Clearwire |
Motorola |
l In March 2008, Clearwire, together with Sprint Nextel, Intel, Google, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House, invested US$14.5 billion in forming the New Clearwire. The entire amount was expected to be spent on mobile WiMAX deployment, with US$3.2 billion in cash, and the rest for spectrum acquisition. Merger with Sprint was completed in November 2008
|
US$14.5 billion |
| 2 |
India |
BSNL |
SOMA Networks |
l In early 2008 BSNL and SOMA Networks collaborated on deploying the mobile WiMAX network in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa, and Andhra Pradesh.
l In September 2008, BSNL floated a new tender for WiMAX equipment. Valued at between US$200 million and US$500 million, the tender was for the WiMAX network in Punjab and Kerala. BSNL announced the finalists for this tender in February 2009, including Huawei, Telsima, Alvarion, and India's PointRed.
|
US$1.2 billion |
| 3 |
India |
Tata Communi-
cations |
Telsima |
l Tata Communications plans to inject US$1.0 billion in WiMAX network deployment across 15 metropolitan areas and 15 cities. First-phase project is located in Kolkata, with service put into operation in 2Q 2008. Second-phase construction will expand to Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Cochin, and Chandigarh. Overall, Tata's WiMAX network is projected to cover 110 cities, with 3,000 base stations to be deployed.
|
US$1.0 billion |
| 4 |
Brazil |
Embratel |
Motorola |
l Embratel, a unit of Mexican Telmex, announced at year-end 2007 an investment of US$600 million in WiMAX deployment in the 3.5GHz frequency band across 12 cities.
l Overall investment has reached US$105 million as of 2008. Embratel plans to deploy 1,018 base stations in 61 more cities, after which Embratel will embark on a new phase of deployment in 200 more cities.
l By 2009 Embratel is projected to invest a total of US$351 million in WiMAX network deployment.
l Embratel's parent company Telmex announced that it will continue to push mobile WiMAX deployment in Brazil, with a projected total investment of over US$1.0 billion.
|
US$1.0 billion |
| 5 |
Korea |
KT |
Samsung
POSDATA |
l KT has been aggressively engaged in the upgrade of WiBro network in Seoul to WiBro Wave 2 starting in 2008. Led by the Korean telecom authority KCC (Korea Communications Commission), KT is expected to continue deploying WiBro, planning to cover a population of 40 million nationwide.
|
US$1.0 billion |
| 6 |
Malaysia |
Packet One Networks
YTL e-Solutions |
Alcatel-
Lucent
ZTE
Samsung |
Packet One Networks announced in December 2008 that it has launched WiMAX services in Johor. By year-end 2009, the company will expand the coverage to Skudai, Batu Pahat, Muar, Segamat and Kluang, further extending to Yong Peng by 2010. Packet One expects to cover at least 70% of the population in Johor Baru by year-end 2009 and 30% of Malaysia’s population by mid-2009. WiMAX investment for 2009 is expected to reach US$28 million, with a total investment of US$274.3 million projected over the next five years.
In April 2009, YTL e-Solutions announced that it will deploy Samsung's terminal equipment in its WiMAX network. Moreover, the company said it will invest over 2.5 billion Ringgits (US$702.2 million; US$1=3.56 Ringgits) in WiMAX network deployment. |
US$960 million |
| 7 |
Japan |
UQ Communi-
cations |
Samsung |
KDDI obtained the license for 2.5GHz frequency band at year-end 2007 and raised 17.0 billion Yen (US$171.9 million; US$1=98.9Yen) to found UQ Communications.
UQ Communications promised the Japanese telecom authority MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication) that it will complete WiMAX deployment in major cities within 2009.
The company has raised an additional 30 billion Yen (US$303.3 million) and, via the issuance of preferred shares, obtained 15.23 billion Yen (US$154.0 million) from KDDI, 4.15 billion Yen (US$42.0 million) each from Intel, East Japan Railway Company, and Kyorcera – This name does not come up when I do a google search. It is Kyocera. Could you please contact the owner of this article and confirm the company name?, as well as 2.3 billion Yen (US$23.2 million) from Daiwa Securities Group. UQ Communications will invest a total of some 47 billion Yen (US$475.2) in WiMAX network deployment. |
US$480 million |
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