As a follow-up to my previous post, where I gave a brief intro to WiMax and 3G, we come now to the question that is being asked alot: “Do Wimax and 3G compete or compliment each other?” There is alot to be said about both technologies but I will include just a few for now…

3G is a cellular technology and its infrastructure is an upgrade of the exsisting GSM infrastructure. And since users are familiar with GSM, the migration to 3G won’t be hard and handsets that support dual-mode UMTS/GSM are already in the market. On the other hand, WiMax is a broadband technology that provides internet access with high data rates. As the cellular network, WiMax operates on licensed sprectrum (in some cases un-licensed) however, the WiMax enabled devices are not expected until 2008. 

UMTS (a 3G technology) is currently operating in 77 countries and HSPA (a 3.5G technology) in 63 countries (ref: 3G Americas) and therefore has wide coverage. On the other hand, it’ll take a while for WiMax to achieve such a coverage in its first years of roll-out. It has been projected that in the areas with no Wimax coverage, the connection will be handed off to a 3G network (ofcourse if the device supports different modes). With dual-mode devices the user can connect to the WiMax network in the cities and then to a 3G network in the rural areas.

I read an article entitled “WiMax the 3G Killer” by Brad Smith, the Wireless Week Technology Editor. He wrote the following:

“Personally I find it hard to believe that this Jack is going to kill off the giant, since mobile WiMAX is just starting to climb the beanstalk. Mobile WiMAX is still a lab technology while 3G networks have been deployed for several years with millions of subscribers. Still, the cellular industry must be more than a little worried about the potential competition WiMAX will bring. “

I agree..