The International Telecom Union recently included the 802.16e or the mobile WiMAX version into its set of mobile standards that allows WiMAX to compete with the already pres ent wireless technologies provid ed by CDMA and GSM players. To consumers, it simply means more choice. They would now have the option of either using Wi-Fi, 3G or WiMAX for broadband wireless access.

India's biggest rural player BSNL recently an nounced its plans to launch 10 WiMAX base stations across India in order to take advantage of the network's easy and cost ef fective penetration. Considering that others like Tata, Bharti, Re liance and Intel are taking inter est in setting up the new infra structure in the country, the WiMAX boom seems to be round the corner. Nokia will be launch ing WiMAX compatible mobile gear this year.

Industry sources say that service providers are not di vulging plans awaiting their own countrywide launches. Intel has already simplified things for them by launching a Wi-Fi and WiMAX enabled chip called Connection 2250.

WiMAX is ideal for rural environments, weather sensing, security equipments and newer avenues in green-field areas. S.

Bama, project manager at Sasken Communication Technologies Ltd., in a 2007 report on WiMAX, asserted that unless WiMAX equipment is proven to the same extent as GSM/CDMA, uptake would be slow, even though the technology opens the stage to address newer communication requirements that cellular technologies could not handle earlier because of it was expensive.