During its "formative years" in the early 1990s, few high-frequency engineers could have predicted the totally ubiquitous presence of wireless technology in today's world. At such engineering trade shows as the Wireless Symposium & Exhibition, RF/microwave engineers would ponder the possibilities of wireless technology over a few beers, projecting applications such as wireless "cattle brands" for livestock and, of course, for cellular telephones. For most applications, bandwidth was assumed to be fairly narrow.
But today's wireless world has already achieved bandwidths in excess of anything projected at those early gatherings. Mobile WiMAX, for example, will provide an extension of home and business lifestyles for customers on the move. Although wireless video was rarely one of the applications discussed during those early years of wireless technology, it has become one of the major selling points for many wireless service providers, and is one of the capabilities of Mobile WiMAX. While wideband is also needed for moving increasingly large amounts of data over the air, video will take advantage of that newly available bandwidth in markets that far extend those for high-speed data, including industrial, security, business, military, and, of course, in entertainment.
Mobile WiMAX is a technology that will make an impact on the lifestyles of many users. Just be ready for that motorist on the road next to you catching up on the evening news!