They are not dumb questions at all, I got the idea that this technology would be licensed?  I am sure ALU is got aslew of patents pending on all of these.  As to a competing technology coming in to rival it?  R&D is the common thread among technology companies. so I am sure someone is working on it.

However, the first one to get to a solution typically enjoys the spoils of having won an important battle.  So, it all depends on how and how fast ALU takes it from the Lab to actual production, and smoothing/perfecting the manufacturing process to produce with high yields and achieve scale to supply the whole industry.

It sounds though as if this MIMO processing is indeed quite a breakthrough. I am not sure however how to gauge the revnue that could potentially be generated.