Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) is providing some very deep pockets for the WiMAX wireless broadband standard that is blossoming in many parts of the world right now, and some countries from South America are joining that list. Brazil along with many countries has millions of residents that are not located in centralized and concentrated population areas. But this does not mean that telecommunications services are not needed in these areas.

WiMAX is a global standard that is attempting to make all kinds of data -- voice, video, television, Internet, etc. -- accessible to the areas that huge outlays of telecom infrastructure just won't accomplish due to economic feasibility, among other things. Intel has poured in huge sums of money recently in the WiMAX arena, mostly here in the United States. Intel and Motorola gave $900 million to WiMAX broadband Internet provider Clearwire (founded by telecom magnate Craig McCaw) and has joined with Motorola and Sprint Nextel recently in Sprint's large-as-life $4 billion commitment to WiMAX as its choice for a 4th-generation (4G) wireless network that will span the country someday soon (we hope).

Does Intel intend to step away from the chipmaking business a little, or capture much of that market as WiMAX networks are developed and deployed in several large global markets? Intel may be setting itself up to capture a ton of future WiMAX chip business with the recent deals with Clearwire and Sprint Nextel, as it apparently sees the future of broadband Internet to hundreds of millions of consumers being provided by WiMAX technology instead of limited services like DSL and even cable modem service -- for consumers, at least.