WiMAX IC market opportunities in India

Amid the skeptic views by telecom industry analysts, WiMAX is becoming closer to reality. In India it's getting implemented swiftly with top telecom and Internet service providers investing hugely in to this market. WiMAX is serving now only the data connectivity market in India. It's strongly expected to serve voice market in the coming years. WiMAX capable phones are predicted as the next trend in mobile phones. They not only enable high-speed Internet connection and also can provide VOIP over WiMAX. This market, if it clicks, can generate huge revenue and can change the mobile phone and cellular market landscape.
India's number one telecom service provider, BSNL is pursuing WiMAX plan by close tie-ups with WiMAX semiconductor and system vendors. Also there is Tata and Reliance, who are giving push to this technology. Most of the new WiMAX launches are planned in 2009.

It's good opportunity for semiconductor vendors making WiMAX devices and modules.
Companies like Intel, Fujitsu are promoting this technology for long time. There are lot of wireless IC startups. With the huge never-seen revenue fall in 4th Quarter 2008, semiconductor industry is scanning the market opportunity to bounce back. WiMAX is clearly the area for these vendors to keep their eyes wide open.
Few leading vendors of WiMAX transceiver and other WiMAX chips are NXP, GCT Semiconductor, Maxim, SiGe Semiconductor, Atmel, Analog Devices, Freescale, Sequans Communications, Wavesat, Qualcomm, Comsys Mobile, Fujitsu, AsicAhead NV, and Picochip. (Not listed by any order)
As the developing economies like India gear up to provide huge opportunity for semiconductor vendors, there are fresh hurdles to handle. Cost is one of the major hurdles to penetrate into Indian market. One of the best ways to cut the cost is to produce chips locally. Here is the big drawback and opportunity. There are no nano meter fabs to make wireless ICs in India. Only one company which has started to build its fab in India is Hyderabad based SemIndia. A media report says, SemIndia is building capacity to produce WiMAX and GSM modules. The market and SemIndia's early move favours this company against any competitors.

If other wireless connectivity solutions takeover!
The other competing technologies UMTS LTE and EVDO success can change the market to some extent but WiMAX won't disappear if other are successful.
In wireless connectivity market it's hard to say one type (in terms standards and protocols) of technology's success is at the cost of other type. It can always be said there is a chance for coexistence, but the market-share will be affected by each other's growth. Same thing applies to wireless IC market.