Asia Pacific region may account for 45% of WiMAX market by 2009, if only the countries would be able to solve the issues that slow down the adoption of the wireless broadband technology, according to research firm In-Stat.

“Issues that may hamper the adoption of WiMAX networks in the region include spectrum regulation that varies significantly across countries and competition on mobility from other technologies,” says Bryan Wang, an In-Stat content manager based in Asia.

Subscriber base in Asia Pacific will grow from over 80 000 in 2005 to over 3.8 million by 2009, reports In-Stat. In 2009, Asia Pacific WiMAX subscribers will account for 45% of the world total, the high-tech market research firm says.

 “Meanwhile, fixed wireless operators are not very enthusiastic about WiMAX after having been burned by last-mile promises in the past. Vendors need to recruit a few high-profile operators to build real-world success stories early on,” Mr. Wang added.

According to a recent report by In-Stat, South Korea is estimated to contribute over 40% of the regional WiMAX equipment revenue in 2009, followed by China with 34% and Japan with 17%. South Korea will also boast the highest WiMAX service revenue in 2009, due to its sophisticated broadband content/application industry, which results in higher average revenue per unit (ARPU).

By 2009, Asia/Pacific WiMAX equipment spending will account for $1.988 billion, according to the research firm.