The future of mobile broadband - LTE or WiMax?

Speculation continues about which will be the technology of choice going into the fourth generation of mobile communication technology.

So which is the strongest contender? Well, according to Informa Telecoms & Media, a provider of business intelligence to global telecoms and media markets, WiMAX could have 103 million subscribers by 2013, with the technology taking a strong foothold in some parts of the globe.

"In many major emerging markets all the pieces are falling into place for WiMAX, including availability of spectrum, huge pent-up demand for broadband, certification of Mobile WiMAX equipment, and the arrival of new lower-cost devices such as ultra-portable notebooks and netbooks," says Mike Roberts, principal analyst at Informa.

However, it seems that LTE (Long Term Evolution, the name given to the fourth generation HSPA technologies), will outpace even that growth, with a predicted billion or more users by 2013.

"There's no doubt that Mobile WiMAX has come of age in the last year with the launch of major new services... but it now faces a tough fight with HSDPA and eventually LTE in key markets. As a result, many WiMAX vendors and operators need to reshape their strategies." Roberts said.