Although WiMAX technology has enormous potential, as it promises to satisfy a strong demand for ubiquitous mobile broadband, competing technologies are significant threats, observes In-Stat in a recent report.

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While much uncertainty remains in this market, the high-tech market research firm foresees the WiMAX chipset market reaching as high as $950 million in 2009. Another plausible, more conservative scenario pegs this market at $450 million in 2009.

"Competing technologies include 3G technologies on the cellular side (EV-DO Release 0, A, and B; HSDPA) and Wi-Fi (coupled with wireless mesh networking and MIMO enhancements within 802.11n) on the networking side," said Gemma Tedesco, In-Stat analyst. "Persuading the large service providers to build infrastructures to support WiMAX will be the key for WiMAX boosters, especially convincing cellular operators, who already have built out expensive 3G infrastructures."