"Mobile WiMax gives Sprint a two-to-four-year advantage," he said. It will take that long for other wireless broadband technologies to be released that will approach mobile WiMax's performance, he added.

In the meantime, mobile WiMax will provide faster service for less cost than its competitors' 3G networks. Tabassi said pricing hasn't been set yet, but it will likely fall somewhere between the cost of DSL and 3G services like Sprint's EV-DO, which costs $60 per month for an unlimited service plan.

An emerging ecosystem?

Tabassi said another reason mobile WiMax will succeed is that it is extremely well supported by other vendors. That, in turn, means that WiMax-capable devices will be readily available.

"We're starting with the right ecosystem that can deliver on the promise," Tabassi said.