There will be WiMax coverage across the UK in the next couple of years according to Ashish Patel, managing director of Intel Capital EMEA. Speaking at a roundtable discussion he said that the long-range wireless technology would find takers - largely among the users of mini-notebooks as well as other portable web-surfing devices.

At present, WiMax is available in a few remote and inadequate deployments in the UK. Intel, which is the most well-known supporter of WiMax, is planning to incorporate the technology into its forthcoming Centrino 2 platform by the end of this year. It has invested quite an amount into companies all throughout the value chain, starting from component manufacturers to operators.

A joint venture was struck in the US among Sprint Nextel and Clearwire. Intel pumped in $1bn. This is the most noteworthy WiMax-related deal that has been struck in the developed world. Simultaneously, other leading players like Google, Comcast and Time Warner are pumping in a significant amount of money.

WiMax may find the Western European market trickier than the US as the former is already full of well-established 3G users. However, the company feels that instead of being perceived as a competitor to 3G or DSL, it will form a new niche for itself.