A new InStat report on WiMax is drawing attention for the wrong reasons.

It's drawing attention based on the idea that it calls 802.16 competitive. Other analysts have said it will die stillborn unless questions about the standard, and real products implementing it, get here soon.

But it's the reason for InStat's conclusion that is the real news here. WiMax will succeed, the firm believes, because WiMax can leapfrog western broadband, delivering fast data to the developing world.

Here's the bullet point, directly from the InStat release:

• Emerging country markets typically have antiquated technology, poor quality outside plant, and limited public network capacity. WiMAX is especially well suited to these applications.

Here's the result, just a few lines above it:

• By 2009, In-Stat forecasts...8.5 million subscribers worldwide will be using WiMAX-based broadband wireless access services. Nearly 4.5 million...will also subscribe to Voice over WiMAX (VoWiMAX) services.

You see, it doesn't matter whether WiMax can compete in the U.S. which, given present regulation, has chosen a wired duopoly of Bells and Cable Head-Ends for broadband.

WiMax makes every other country competitive with the U.S. in broadband delivery. Every other country.

Like competing with India?

Get ready for Botswana.