Data transfer speed of WiMAX technology for end users

Users can expect to have broadband access speeds ranging from 1-5 Mbps depending on the service provider offering.

When the WiMAX Forum refers to 40 Mbps, it is referring to a single channel in wireless frequency (as part of the network) that is likely shared among multiple users. Individual users will have access to that amount of capacity, but the likelihood is they will have the ability to achieve downlink speeds of 1-5 Mbps, which is similar to the cable experience. There is the potential to burst to higher speeds, but that would depend on the operator's plans and business model, frequency being used, distance of the user from the base station or node, whether there is line of site or NLoS to the base station, and the number of users on the network.

A single WiMAX base station or node should be able to serve thousands of subscribers. The actual number of users will depend on the guaranteed bandwidth to each users and the actual spectrum used by the operator.