A Cisco representative confirmed that the company will stop designing and building new WiMAX base stations. It will put more time and effort into the packet core since purchasing Starent Networks.
Cisco purchased Navini Networks in 2007, entering the WiMAX market. It was seen as a way to build out its WiFi and WiFi-mesh portfolios and enter emerging markets for broadband internet. Cisco got some large contracts for LTE and WiMAX with Verizon Wireless, Clearwire and Sprint Nextel.
It will be interesting to see what will happen with such a large company leaving the marketplace. It gives room to smaller companies, like Pure Wave, to fill the void left by Cisco.
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