Delays will not harm WiMax

The recently announced six-month delay to proposed IEEE ratification of WiMax wireless wide area networking standards will not seriously hold back the emerging technology, according to industry analysts.

ABI Research today advised WiMax watchers not to panic. Philip Solis, the analyst firm's senior wireless connectivity analyst, said that no great harm will result from the delay, which is said to be caused not by any tardiness in establishing interoperability certification testing, but by later than anticipated deliveries of compliant chipsets.

"These things take time," said Solis. "WiMax's arrival was heavily hyped for early to mid-2005, but experienced observers are not surprised by the hold up. We have seen similar situations in other segments of the industry."

The analyst added that fears over any further procrastination casting doubt on the technology are largely unfounded. Operators are continuing to buy pre-standard equipment anyway, he noted.

"I have been assured by the WiMax Forum that interoperability testing is on target to commence in July. Chipsets have already been released from small and nimble companies such as Wavesat," said Solis.

"Others such as Sequans, and larger producers like Intel and Fujitsu Microelectronics America, will most likely start shipping during the second quarter. Deployments of certified products are probably not going to be held up to a dangerous degree."