The 802.16 WiMAX network technology was conceived about 20 years ago. It was meant to combine decent coverage of several square kilometres with great data transfer rates (for the time) of several dozen megabits per second, and it ended up achieving both objectives. Major companies such as HTC and Intel released WiMAX-compatible devices and hardware; ultimately, the standard lost to 4G LTE due to the latter receiving more welcome reception.https://www.notebookcheck.net/Paying-tribute-to-WiMAX-the-lovely-cross-between-Wi-Fi-and-3G.727249.0.html
Wimax had far less royalties and more open, but much of LTE patents were owned by the carriers so they enforced LTE so they can get money from all the manufacturers. This is why when a device has LTE its price spikes compared to the wifi version
Interesting
I was a proponent of WiMAX because ironically, it did 'cellular' far better than LTE did. Because it was based on WiFi, the nodes were inexpensive and could be meshed, so you could stick one on lampposts to extend the range or increase the bandwidth.
The irony is that to get bandwidth up and handle deadspots, most cellcos are building a network of WiFi access points and introducing WiFi Calling... which is WiMAX.
I still have a Samsung modem lying around in my drawer, which I was able to use only for 1 year, and then the providers of all owners of such modems simply threw ...