Hardware giant Intel has predicted that the UK will have national WiMax broadband coverage within two years, it has been suggested.

According to ZDNet, Ashish Patel, managing director of Intel Capital EMEA, made the assertion at a roundtable yesterday (May 8th).

Mr Patel said that the technology would find a strong user base among notebook and PDA users throughout the region.

"WiMax will cover the UK nationally in the next 18 to 24 months," he said, although he added that it was unlikely that one company would be the dominant force in the provision of the wireless broadband technology.

He added that significant infrastructural overhauls will need to take place before WiMax can become widely available.

An upcoming Ofcom auction later in the year will present an opportunity for suppliers to secure spectrum for WiMax use, Mr Patel concluded.

In the US, Forbes reports that Intel's Clearwire service intends to offer WiMax services in 100 cities by 2011.

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