Why LTE is successful but WiMax is failure though both are OFDMA technology

Question

From the access network point of view both uses OFDMA/SC-FDMA though core part is different in both the cases. Despite being the first adopter of OFDMA what could be the possible reason of the WiMax failure. And what are the factors which favored the LTE.

Answer 1

I can think of multiple reasons and OFDMA has nothing to do with the failure of WiMax.

• WiMax as the name indicates started as a Fixed wireless internet access as an extension to WiFi, the mobility version came later. By the time the mobility versions came, LTE initiative was already started by the major telecom companies.
• WiMax is complete new standard including new core network nodes, which means a lot of work to migrate and inter operate with older technologies. LTE also adds new nodes, but the natural progression is there and inter-operability is clearly defined even with non-3gpp access. Some of the protocols are defined as upgrades to earlier versions, the terminologies remain almost the same.
• None of the major telecom operators (read AT&T, Verizon, VodaFone etc...) were part of the WiMax forum.
• OFDMA is power hungry and hence LTE uses SC-FDMA for uplink. OFDMA is used only for downlink.