WiMax broadband is unlikely to be deployed across the whole of the UK, an industry group has said.

According to Bluenowhere, which is a wireless network operator and member of the Mobile WiMax Acceleration Group (M-WAG), trials of the technology have been successful but only for "niche" applications, zdnet.co.uk reports.

Harry Aldridge, Chief Executive of the company, told the website that the fact WiMax broadband does not have a major operator backing it in the UK makes the establishment of a nationwide even more unlikely.

He added that the M-WAG does not expect WiMax to be picked up by any existing mobile operator as their fourth-generation (4G) mobile broadband solution.

"It is far more likely, for a number of reasons, to be deployed to serve niche markets," Mr Aldridge said.

The Bluenowhere assessment comes shortly after the Guardian claimed that affixing a WiMax transmitter to every BT broadband exchange would enable broadband access in most areas where people cannot currently receive a 2Mb connection.