SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., June 11, 2001 - Despite recent troubles stemming from slower than anticipated service rollouts for MMDS and financial difficulties among the larger LMDS service providers, broadband fixed wireless access (BFWA) will represent a substantial proportion of the broadband (wireline and wireless) market by 2005, according to Cahners In-Stat Group (http://www.instat.com).
Overall, the high-tech market research firm estimates that there are currently over 210,000 subscribers to broadband fixed wireless services throughout the world, including both enterprise and residential customers. While the BFWA market has suffered somewhat, by 2005 service provider revenues from BFWA are expected to increase by 10 times its current level.
"By most measures the Information Age has been severely hindered by the relatively slow deployment of 'last-mile' broadband services throughout the world and especially to enterprises, resulting in pent-up demand for high-speed data and advanced telecommunications services.
"By circumventing the costs and time associated
with laying expensive fiber, broadband fixed wireless technology offers an
excellent means by which to capitalize on the vast potential of the broadband
market," said Becky Diercks, director of In-Stat's Wireless Group.
The market is segmented into three markets, based on
spectrum allocation for services. These three markets are: Local Multi-point
Distribution Services (LMDS); Multi-channel Multi-point Distribution Services
(MMDS); and license-free fixed wireless services that comprise the Industrial
Scientific and Medical (ISM) bands and the Unlicensed National Information
Infrastructure (U-NII) bands.
MMDS will account for the primary growth in the BFWA
market as Sprint and WorldCom increase geographic coverage over the coming
years. Towards the end of this forecast period LMDS services and license-exempt
services will play a more significant role within the market than they do today.
In-Stat also found that:
| -- | LMDS broadband services in the United States provide high data rates, but only over a relatively short distance of three miles. LMDS is primarily a solution for medium and large businesses. The major drivers to the LMDS market are the cost of network deployment compared to wireline deployment, the flexibility of the network and the low service prices that can be offered. |
| -- | Compared to LMDS, MMDS provides slower data rates over longer distances. The primary prospect base for MMDS services includes the residential, small office home office (SOHO), and small business markets. The major drivers to the MMDS market include the vast untapped residential and small business demand for broadband service and the ability of MMDS to provide advanced services such as Quality of Service (QoS), voice and video. |
| -- | The license-exempt broadband fixed wireless market in the United States targets residential, SOHO, small- and medium-sized enterprises. The main benefit of license-exempt service is that service providers don't have to buy expensive licenses. The lack of required licenses in these markets, however, results in an increased level of competition. Increased competition has the positive impact of driving down prices, and the negative impact of increased interference. |
| -- | Worldwide BFWA service provider revenues will grow to more than $3 billion in 2005. |
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CONTACT:
Cahners In-Stat Group
Becky Diercks,
617/558-4748
Email: rdiercks@cahners.com
Kirsten Skedd,
480/609-4534
Email: kskedd@instat.com