Should I stay or should I go? It's a refrain that might be heard by wireless ISPs (and cities) as the decision to implement WiMax solutions comes closer to reality. Implementing (fixed) 802.16d-2004 as early as this year may be an option...but waiting for a mobilized WiMax (802.16e) solution could deliver big benefits...and a bigger market.

How long will it take mobilized WiMax to get real if it passes IEEE muster this May? Different people have different opinions. Chip vendors tend to be optimistic about 802.16e (a year or two), while systems people tend to be conservative (two or three years).

While the IEEE 802.16d-2004 standard was adopted last year, compatibility testing won't begin until the 2nd half of this year. Meanwhile, mobilized WiMax, especially with Korea's WiBro, appears to be on the fast track and agreement on an IEEE 802.16e standard could happen in May.

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