Very interesting question, both the technologies are pretty much similar to each other with very minor differences. I would also like to know a detailed comparison addressing the above questions, however I will address some basic similarities and differences:

To start with, the basic technical difference comes from the bandwidth LTE-A uses upto 100 MHz while WiMAX (802.16m) has max. 40 MHz bandwidth to its disposal.

Both are based on flat-ip architecture.

LTE-A has different access technology for its downlink (OFDMA) and uplink (OFDMA,SC-FDMA hybrid), while 802.16m uses SOFDMA for both uplink and downlink

WiMAX has limited spectrum options for deployment making it difficult for existing operators (networks based on 3GPP legacy standards) to migrate.

LTE-A can handle mobility speeds upto 450-500 Km/Hr (max), while 802.16m can support speeds upto 120 Km/hr.

802.16m have no support for legacy 3GPP devices (correct me on this if I am wrong), which means no handovers possible between 2G (GSM) and 3G (UMTS) etc. LTE-A is backward compatible, so a good business case for operators worldwide who have already deployed their networks based on 3GPP standards

Both standards support advance MIMO configurations.

Technically both are very sound technologies in meeting the IMT-Advanced requirements, however, I will incline more towards LTE-A as having more chances of being successful. Reason: Its backward compatibility with legacy systems, easy extension of LTE R8, political factors (having major impact).

A more detailed answer from anyone in the community would be highly desirable.

Very interesting question, both the technologies are pretty much similar to each other with very minor differences. I would also like to know a detailed comparison addressing the above questions, however I will address some basic similarities and differences:

To start with, the basic technical difference comes from the bandwidth LTE-A uses upto 100 MHz while WiMAX (802.16m) has max. 40 MHz bandwidth to its disposal.

Both are based on flat-ip architecture.

LTE-A has different access technology for its downlink (OFDMA) and uplink (OFDMA,SC-FDMA hybrid), while 802.16m uses SOFDMA for both uplink and downlink

WiMAX has limited spectrum options for deployment making it difficult for existing operators (networks based on 3GPP legacy standards) to migrate.

LTE-A can handle mobility speeds upto 450-500 Km/Hr (max), while 802.16m can support speeds upto 120 Km/hr.

802.16m have no support for legacy 3GPP devices (correct me on this if I am wrong), which means no handovers possible between 2G (GSM) and 3G (UMTS) etc. LTE-A is backward compatible, so a good business case for operators worldwide who have already deployed their networks based on 3GPP standards

Both standards support advance MIMO configurations.

Technically both are very sound technologies in meeting the IMT-Advanced requirements, however, I will incline more towards LTE-A as having more chances of being successful. Reason: Its backward compatibility with legacy systems, easy extension of LTE R8, political factors (having major impact).

A more detailed answer from anyone in the community would be highly desirable.

This is a very interesting question!

I am working on QoS management in 4G networks.

In my studies, I can say that both networks are very powerful since they can achieve very high data rates even at cell-edge with improved QoS.

Nevertheless, I think that LTE could achieve a better market penetration than WiMax, due to compatibility with previous standards (HSPA and so on), global roaming, integration in smarphone devices.

I read these very interesting documents, I hope they could help you!

Mobile broadband: including WiMAX and LTE

http://books.google.it/books?hl=it&lr=&id=v1nItLFLgx0C&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=scheduling+wimax+lte&ots=d7uIvHFMhL&sig=Z4Pmi0wD_skS48tC2L8et_aUHt4#v=onepage&q=scheduling%20wimax%20lte&f=false

Quality of service in WiMAX and LTE networks

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/login.jsp?tp=&arnumber=5458370

Toward enhanced mobile video services over WiMAX and LTE

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/login.jsp?tp=&arnumber=5534589

My M.Sc. research on WiMAX and WiFi. However, I have a little knowledge about LTE.

The answers are base on my knowledge :

Q1. What are the technical similarities and differences between the two technologies (especially the 4G versions)?. What, out of the differences, might advantage one technology over another?"

A\ First both of them uses OFDMA basically or depends on a kind of OFDMA. However. LTE frame duration is 10 ms while WiMAX is 5 ms. also there is a different in frame structure for each one.

Q2. What other factors ( commercial, historical, political,...etc) might one technology benefit from more than the other technology?

A\ Market Penetration, LTE because of compatibility with previous versions of 3GPP.

Q3. Are you with the say that LTE will dominate?. Why?.

Examples of progress of these technologies in your area, stories, statistics and references are welcomed.

A\ Yes. LTE currently dominates the market. However, the cost to build a WiMAX network is less than LTE.

you can read this article

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/login.jsp?tp=&arnumber=5441285&url=http%3A%2F%2Fieeexplore.ieee.org%2Fxpls%2Fabs_all.jsp%3Farnumber%3D5441285

You can also read the white papers on this link

http://www.3gpp.org/Industry-White-Papers

they focus on the topics about LTE/LTE-A development and expected benefits

from my point of view, both LTE and WiMAX are so close. But LTE is inherited from 3GPP , while WiMAX is inherited from networks. the main technical differences is the PHY frame that exchange data between base station and mobile station. where the frame structure and time duration are different. as well as frame overhead and data allocation procedures has major influence to the down link and up link bandwidth.

WiMAX could have dominated the market if LTE R8 release had been delayed by two more years. Having the capability to handover with other 3GPP standards give the edge to LTE. I couldn't see a chance for WiMAX to dominate LTE anymore. Are there any further modem development going on for WiMAX?

Yes, I agree with you Mohamed provided that the WiMax people (the WiMax operators) be more active during the extra 2 years. What prevented WiMax from dominance is the reluctance by major companies to adopt it though it had much of the features of current LTE long before. For the reluctance for example, the one major story of its adoption in the U.S. by Clearwire, which was a new company established by Sprinit, a major telecom operator who was afraid of going fully for it, so it established Clearwire. WiMax started with flat architecture, TDD and all IP with high data rates and mobility (with the mobile-WiMax in 2005),some of these features only appeared with HSPA and some only with LTE. 3GPP developed its technologies to acquire what WiMax was distinguished in one at a time. The popularity and welcoming of LTE with TDD mode (TD-LTE) is one last feature that probably made WiMax people decides to migrate to LTE and they are working on a migration standard expected to appear in 2 years (http://www.telesemana.com/blog/2013/05/03/wimax-forum/) which will include a base station with dual operation WiMax+LTE !.

WiMax was optimized for data from the beginning. They were reluctant in going for voice. However, telecom standards were optimized for voice from the beginning but they continued to pick up quickly salient WiMax data features. Thanks. @AlDmour

For the future of WiMax. it still finding some expansion in some developing countries in which the low cost installing networks forms a driving factor (you may register to newsletter at WiMax forum http://www.wimaxforum.org/ to receive their market updates). This is in addition to existing customer base whereby there requirements are broadband over the wireless as a replacement to DSL to their premises.

There exist one good business case for WiMax networks which is its use as private networks in dedicated industrial segments as platform over which telemetry, control and management signals are transferred. Resort to private networks -like WiMax- and not to public networks because of the necessity for a reliable network whereby public networks (WiMax or LTE or else) are subject to congestion. One good example which is receiving much attention is its use to develop smart power grids for optimization load demand, fault signal transfer, regulation,...etc. Lots of research and activity currently in this area. Other areas are aviation, e-health (to transfer video in emergencies) and similar segments. The resort to WiMax in this case is optimum for reasons of low cost of deployment and other reasons which LTE can't compete. Thanks. @AlDmour.

One word, backward compatibility. This is the winning factor for LTE, cause obviously operators would seek to reduce the CAPEX and IMPEX! Technology wise, I would say carrier aggregation in LTE-A seems interesting and has the upper hand over WiMAX. Otherwise, it is all interchangeable between these technologies.

"One word, backward compatibility", yes, Thavamaran. LTE is backward compatible with all the previous 3GPP(GSM, GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA, HSPA), 3GPP2(cdma-one, CDMA2000, EV-DO, EV-DV) and the synchronous SC-CDMA (China). This gives them the business case to make use of this large customer base who can simply get an LTE phone to switch to LTE without changing subscription or company while still able to communicate with GSM/CDMA/... etc users or base stations. Also, the availability of myriads of phone sets and manufacturers of network equipment and ease of upgrading the network. In a previous case 3GPP2 in NA gave up plans to deploy UMB, a big enhancement to CDMA2000 similar to LTE (All IP and OFDM based), for the purpose of migrating to LTE instead. Also plans in china and other asian countries adopting SC-CDMA, is to migrate to the TDD mode of LTE or LTE-TDD. This means that all the world is moving to LTE.

On the other hand, WiMAX 2.0 (the 4G version) is backward compatible with its previous WiMax 1.0/1.5 version but WiMax customers are only about 30 million world wide. Therefore it is of the interest of WiMax operators to integrate with LTE through a multi-access technology. This means lots of additions and alterations in hardware and software to core network and abase stations and multimode handsets (LTE, WiMax). Of course, this is very costly and complicated (in my view) and very doubtfull that such migration policy will be a success as a result. I think that if it proved to be a success somehow, it will benefit the small WiMax operators but rather the giant telecom operators who may find in it a business opportunity to acquire the WiMax sector at affordable cost for them. Thanks. @AlDmour.

Hi friend I would like to know why users/subscribers who do not know why 3g speeds are good in India should switch to LTE ,

and how to make them do so

Hi Dutta, Do you mean that 3G is sufficient for the current needs of customers in India?. , Hence, there might be actual need for LTE !. LTE is on the track to LTE-advanced of 1000 MBps. Which can enhance speeds. However, it is not only speeds that matter. Total traffic in the cell can increase. The explosive traffic increase is expected everywhere. LTE is a more efficient technology which can result in reduced cost as well. Thanks. @AlDmour

In India this is the practical context

A corporate promoting Jio has spectrum over 2300Mhz which gives limited coverage. If they plan for pocket coverages across the cities and towns users will not get a smooth and seamless experience. Jio is yet to get 1800Mhz spectrum, but this spectrum can be used as the bridges between pockets deploying a dual-mode LTE network. This 1800 Mhz spectrum can also provide seamless voice services for Jio’s customers via CSFB mechanism.

But Reliance Jio has certain issues – at present GSM players are expanding their 3G/HSPA networks at a rapid rate and CDMA players like MTS India and Tata Tele have quite good coverages for their CDMA-EVDO networks. Those are using GSM devices, they can easily shifted to Jio. But those are using EvDO dongles (very few users use EVDO on smartphones) they use it for the wide coverage.

How does LTE match up to provide better subscription rates