Evolution in Broadband Technology and Future of Wireless Broadband

In the last two decades, the availability of worldwide high speed Internet networks together with progressive deployment and adoption of broadband connections to Internet has significantly enhanced the ability to transmit video, audio and voice through the same channel with high performance. In addition to that, since the beginning of this millennium, there has been a rapid growth in diffusion of wireless broadband. In this respect, mobile broadband is gaining popularity lately in both developing as well as developed countries. The main reason for this growth in wireless broadband lies in its ability to serve remote areas at relatively lower cost than landline and its potential to transmit information seamlessly from anywhere in the world. The purpose of this chapter is to examine this changing diffusion behavior of fixed versus mobile broadband technology and highlight the future possible path of adoption for these technologies by users around the world. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-61350-101-6.ch801