Worldwide vendor revenue from 802.16d and 802.16e WiMAX network equipment and devices hit $1.08 billion in 2009, down 19% from 2008, as the market suffered the effects of the recession, reports Infonetics Research. Quarterly revenue levels remain short of the pre-recession market highs of over $300 million seen in early 2008.

For the combined WiMAX equipment and device market, Motorola took the #1 spot in 2009, with 17% of worldwide revenue, just ahead of Alvarion

The report added that Huawei showed the biggest growth in WiMAX equipment and device market share in 2009.

"The WiMAX market is coming out of the recession period strongly, posting three consecutive quarters of revenue growth for 802.16e equipment and devices. With Clearwire in the U.S. announcing strong quarterly results, Yota in Russia expanding rapidly, and others such as UQ in Japan being aggressive, the WiMAX business model seems to be working. Though we are still in the early days, WiMAX is proving to be a good fit in a range of broadband segments in developed as well as developing markets," notes Richard Webb, Infonetics Research's directing analyst for WiMAX.

In conclusion, the number of WiMAX subscribers jumped 75% in 2009 to 6.8 million worldwide.