Juniper Research has predicted that up to 12% of the global DSL (ADSL) broadband installed base will be substituted by WiMAX (802.16e) wireless services come 2013, with the Far East leading with over one fifth of the 47m subscribers.

The study also explored how WiMAX is well suited to rapid deployment in the many underserved areas, not only in developing areas, but also in developed countries:


It's predicted that the annual fixed WiMAX global market size will exceed 13m subscribers by 2013. Meanwhile WiMAX has failed to make much of a dent in the UK, where it remains very much a niche technology.

Naturally this situation could change if one or more of the major mobile phone operators decided to adopt WiMAX in place of rival technologies for future 'Mobile Broadband' services, although most appear to be undecided.