WiMax – a model for wide scale, wireless internet – is unlikely to ever become the main broadband network operating in the UK, say industry experts.

Point Topic, a UK-based company which provides information on broadband communication services, said that while it would not be able to secure a substantial share in the UK market it may have potential as a back-up connection.

A spokesperson for Point Topic said: "I expect that WiFi will play a role in supporting access to the internet and other data services for travelling users – it could and should be much cheaper than mobile networks."

He added that the firm estimated that WiMax's market share was unlikely to exceed five per cent.

Point Topic described WiMax's lack of need for a fixed line connection and its ability to provide bandwidths exceeding those available from fixed lines in many situations as its key advantages.

However, weather-dependent performance and a fall in connection speeds when a WiMax cell is shared by multiple users were highlighted as disadvantages that would hold the technology back.

According to TelecomMarketing.com WiMax is a wireless broadband transmission system, which has a larger maximum range than WiFi, which has a range of around 100 feet.

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