Australia at battle over wireless technology
Australia at battle over wireless technology
Australia has become the unexpected battleground for wireless technology with six different wireless broadband networks fighting it out for dominance.
A Gartner report called "WiFi, WiMAX and 3G: the battle has begun in Asia Pacific", has revealed that WiMAX will not available for three years, despite so much hype surrounding the technology.
Robin Simpson, the research director for Mobile and Wireless at Gartner said: "Why wait for WiMAX to provide last mile wireless broadband access, when these alternative technologies are available now.
"Australian businesses have recognised this, and the early signs are that they are prepared to pay for wireless broadband that gives them connectivity where they need it."
Gartner believes that Sydney is the hub for the Asia Pacific with a population of over four million people, with many commercial networks already in action across city, overcoming the infrastructure limitations and high costs of fixed broadband access.
Unwired and Personal Broadband Australia are two of the latest broadband providers in Australia which are trying to get traction during the window of opportunity that exists until WiMAX is available.
A new Gartner mobile connectivity research report proposes that current wireless broadband technologies deliver what public WiFi infrastructure promised but never delivered - which is broadband and ubiquity.
Simpson adds: "Hotspots were hyped as the technology providing ubiquitous wireless broadband coverage. However, poor scalability means these will never provide the omnipresent access that business users require. They need true mobility, not the ability to read emails at the corner coffer shop."
Gartner also believes that WiMAX will become attractive to service providers over the next three years, but this opportunity already exists with current availability of iBURST, IP Wireless and Navini technologies.
Simpson believes that the Australian experience of providing wireless data services can be translated to any market worldwide with a significant installed base of desktop and laptop computers.
"Overcoming the challenge of last mile access through a truly mobile option is good for business, consumers and the telcos themselves.
"One thing is certain, wireless broadband will disrupt the way we communicate on the move. And in the heat of the battle, the carrier or operator that ignores wireless broadband will get lost in the dust of those who see the business opportunity."
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