The WiMAX movement continues to focus on mobile opportunities, but it is the traditional fixed wireless markets that will remain the technology's bread and butter through 2009, according to a new report from Visant Strategies. The worldwide wireless broadband audience of 5 million in 2005 is expected to grow by 40% yearly through 2010, and Visant Strategies believes WiMAX vendors will be perfectly poised to take advantage of this building market.

In the report, "802.16/WiMAX: Assessment of Fixed and Mobile Opportunities," Visant Strategies foresees a $3.4 billion annual opportunity for fixed and portable broadband equipment by 2010.

"WiMAX will account for 50% of that multibillion dollar market by the end of the decade, with much activity in the 3.5-GHz band," said report author Andy Fuertes. "The market for cable modem and digital subscriber line replacement is expanding today while WiMAX in the mobile network remains two years to four years away."

The mobile WiMAX community is faced with political, technical and competitive challenges, the report finds, impacting time to market, which is paramount since the 802.16e specification is not yet finished.

The study provides global and regional forecasts for fixed and mobile 802.16 and BWA base stations, and CPE shipments and equipment revenues, as well as fixed and mobile 802.16 and BWA subscribers and service revenues through 2010. 802.16 chipset shipments and revenues also are provided through 2010.