The Economist, July 19th 2008, pp. 80-81, discusses the two main contenders for the next generation (4G) networks. "Both 4G technologies promise wireless nirvana: fast, ubiquitous broadband. Once radio chips are cheap enough, they will crop up not just in handsets and laptops, but in devices such as digital cameras and electricity meters, which are unconnected today. But the telecoms and computer industries have very different ideas about how this should be done, and this explains the split between WiMAX and LTE (which are technically similar). WiMAX is an attempt by the computer industry to export its way of doing things to the telecoms industry—and LTE is the response"
- WiMax, lead by Intel and allies, believe that wireless broadband should be as open as the internet is, with consumers paying a flat fee for access, using whatever services they like.
- LTE (Long Term Evolution), lead by Ericsson, is seen as an update to existing technologies and has been criticized for being closed and limiting consumer choice.
Since last year WiMax had the upper hand, but that has changed: some operators reported the technology wasn't ready, and auctions for suitable WiMax spectrum have been delayed. This has given LTE the opportunity to fight back: it has received backing from the GSM Association, and AT&T and Verizon have said they will adopt LTE.
"[T]here is now talk of merging the two technologies, by making WiMAX part of the LTE standard. Even Sean Maloney, Intel’s Mr WiMAX, says “they ought to be harmonised”. Although this is still unlikely, it would not be a bad outcome. Subscribers could then take advantage of internet-like openness combined with the robustness of wireless technology—without having to put up with the inconvenience of two different standards."
