WiMAX equipment sales up 48% in 1Q06

Infonetics: Although relatively small, the WiMAX equipment market surged in the first quarter of 2006, with revenue jumping 48%, to $68.3 million, . Annual revenue is forecast to reach $1.7 billion by 2009.

Strong annual growth will continue over the next few years, driven by media gateways and softswitches, with the total next gen voice market hitting new highs each year until it reaches $6.2 billion in 2009.

Phenomenal growth in residential and SOHO VoIP subscribers is forecast as well. worldwide, the number of subscribers is expected to nearly double between 2005 and 2006 to 47.3 million, and will continue to skyrocket through 2009. In 2006, there will be: 1Q06 Highlights

• 62% of total WiMAX revenue comes from CPE, 38% from base stations; by 2009 this shifts to 79% and 21% respectively

• worldwide outdoor wireless mesh access node revenue increased 22% to $46 million and unit shipments increased 25%

• 30% of WiMAX equipment comes from EMEA, 26% from North America, 26% from Asia Pacific, and 18% from CALA; deployments in EMEA are mostly in Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, indicating that the strong early market for WiMAX is in developing countries

Infonetics’ report tracks WiMAX base stations, WiMAX CPE, and outdoor wireless mesh network access nodes. Market forecasts are updated quarterly and cover worldwide, North America, EMEA, Asia Pacific, and CALA. The service tracks Alvarion, Aperto Networks, BelAir Networks, Firetide, Motorola, Nortel, Redline Communications, Siemens, Skypilot, Soma Networks, Strix Systems, Tropos Networks and others. WiMAX and Outdoor Mesh Network Equipment

Publ 20060601