Ben Wolff’s CTIA 2009 Keynote: The Future of Wireless Broadband is “Clear”

Wolff took the opportunity of the wireless focused audience to reiterate the
need for new, all IP based 4G networks. 

Clearwire’s Ben Wolff, CTIA 2009

"In the past, the focus of wireless networks was on coverage.  With the
dramatic increase of data and demands of new applications, the focus is now on
capacity.  If fact, Cisco has predicted that data usage on wireless
networks will double every year for the next few years, and will increase an
astonishing 66 times between 2008 and 20013.  The existing 3G networks are
just not capable of handling this traffic."

Wolff then revealed the results of a recent Clearwire drive test comparison
between its WiMAX network in Portland and other current 3G offerings available. 
The WiMAX network reported an average download speed of 6.5Mbps, compared to
700Kbps for the 3G networks.  The WiMAX network also had 1/3 the latency
experienced with the 3G networks.

Wolff also announced the development of the WiMAX Innovation Network, a west
coast WiMAX testbed for developers.  Scheduled to launch this summer, the
Innovation Network is designed to accelerate the development of 4G applications
and devices by offering free service to qualified developers for one year.

The WiMAX Innovation Network will initially cover more than 20 square miles in
Silicon Valley and bring 4G wireless service to campuses of some of the world’s
leading technology innovators including early participants Google Inc., Intel
Corporation, and a leading educational institution in Silicon Valley. 
Cisco Systems, Inc.  will provide core Internet Protocol Next-Generation
Network (IP NGN) infrastructure equipment in support of the WiMAX Innovation
Network.  Service is expected to be available to developers by late summer
of this year giving them a head start on commercial service launching in the Bay
Area in 2010.

Seeding a core group of early adopters is a smart move by Clearwire and should
help evangelize the performance advantages of WiMAX networks.