A year in review

The WiMAX hype hit an all-time high in 2007, and now we sit on the edge of our seats waiting for it all to come to fruition next year. Sprint, the technology's primary evangelist in the operator community, was just the catalyst the technology needed to move forward in 2007 as the operator helped move the ecosystem along.

Meanwhile, the muni-WiFi market, which hit the upper curve of the hype cycle in 2006, came crashing to reality as providers realized there isn't much of a business case in offering free access to residents. The technology's limitations became apparent. WiFi isn't meant to be a high-scale network, and the cost to blanket a city is more than what was ever anticipated.

Will WiMAX go down the same path as the muni-WiFi market in terms of market expectations? 2008 should be an interesting year.--Lynnette

P.S. FierceBroadbandWireless will take a publishing break until Jan. 3. Enjoy the holidays!