Broadband Beyond the Cities: WiMAX in Emerging Markets - Asia Pacific Author: Tom Elliott Publication Date: 6 Feb 2009 Pages: 6 Service Navigation: Wireless > Emerging Markets Communications Strategies > Forecasts

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Emerging markets represent a significant growth opportunity for WiMAX service providers. Consumer subscriptions in the developing Asian countries are forecast to grow at a compound rate of 132% through 2013, with the subscriber base reaching almost 27 million in that year. Most emerging markets WiMAX providers will launch their initial services in major urban areas, to take advantage of concentrations of existing Internet users with purchasing power. However, over the longer term the most rapid growth is expected to be in second-tier cities and in rural areas, where there is substantially less competition from incumbent broadband suppliers. China and India will be critical markets while the speed of HSPA deployment will be the most significant competitive factor in most markets.