More Piling On Regarding WiMAX (What Sprint Should be Reading)

Implications: 1.      Typically, technology hype-fests are not known for critical assessments. 2.      To say the statements made by the CEO of the Australian WISP, Buzz Broadband, were shocking would be an understatement. 3.      As a former proponent of WIMAX, his evaluation just adds to the growing list of reservations concerning the solution.

Analysis:  In the interest of being evenhanded, another Australian WISP, Internode, has had favorable results with WiMAX.  Internode has stated on blogs that it is turning up 100 subs per month in Yorke Peninsula, and will have at least 500 customers at the end of June.  

Perhaps the criticism is valid that Buzz Broadband is just a small company (although it has been around over 10 years) and that its assessment should not be taken too seriously.  Backers of WiMAX point to success stories around the world.  But if that is the case, why did the supplier, Airspan, bring more attention to the negative speech by issuing a defensive marketing release?  Airspan should have just used surrogates, such as other customers, to make the case for its product line.  It should have even considered refunding a dissatisfied buyer of its gear, and then perhaps this situation could have been avoided altogether.   

On Airpan’s assertions that it bent over backwards to help make the product work, suppliers everyday in the industry engage in these types of activity.  Even the head of an Airspan reseller commented in InfoWorld that the supplier needed “to take some of the blame” and “to take a larger responsibility when it comes to educating carriers."  

It should be noted that Buzz Broadband apparently used a fixed WiMAX application, one in which is not too compelling, and really has advantages in markets in which there is no other alternative.  The real market is for users who want a mobile data service.  That is why Sprint and Clearwire would have to come together because without each other, there are not many customers who are going to buy a WiMAX aircard -- if it works in one city and does not work in another.   

It is somewhat amusing that Sprint directed the press to an analyst responding to the attack from Buzz who was from the same consulting firm that sponsored the pro-WIMAX event.  Somehow making use of an apologist for the technology does not seem helpful.