WiMax

Today we will talk about WiMax. In the next WotD we will differentiate between 4G and WiMax as these 2 terms seem to be synonymous when coming up in conversation and it’s important to know the difference between the two (as well as how they are related).

WiMax: Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) solution that is based on standards recommendations from both the IEEE 802.16 working group and the ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute). WiMax is promoted by the WiMax Forum, a special interest group comprising members of the manufacturing, carrier and service provider communities. The IEEE established the 802.16 working group to standardize Local Multipoint Distribution Services (LMDS) and Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Services (MMDS).

There are 2 types of WiMax:

1) Fixed WiMax (no support for mobility)
2) Mobile WiMax

Various uses of WiMax include:

· Connecting Wi-Fi hotspots to the Internet.
· Providing a wireless alternative to cable and DSL for "last mile" broadband access.
· Providing data and telecommunications services.
· Providing a source of Internet connectivity as part of a business continuity plan. That is, if a business has both a fixed and a wireless Internet connection, especially from unrelated providers, they are unlikely to be affected by the same service outage.
· Providing portable connectivity.
· WiMax applications include private campus networks, T-1 and Fractional T-1 business service, rural or developing areas where cabled broadband service is not available, Wi-Fi hotspot backhaul and disaster recovery (as demonstrated during Hurricane Katrina).

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiMAX;
Newton’s Telecom Dictionary, 22nd Edition; 2006

Companies and WiMax:
Companies have been investigating the use of WiMax to target the “last mile” broadband access for rural communities where broadband access was previously economically unviable. This would help open up new potential wireless markets and help compete with cable/DSL offerings for Internet service. Other significant movements in the wireless industry include:

- In 2006, Sprint announced its intent to invest $5 Billion into WiMax
- In 2007, WiMax base stations quadrupled from 5,000 to 20,000 globally
- In 2008, a new company, Clearwire, (now with Sprint owning a majority share of the company at 51%) was formed by the aggregation of 120Mhz of spectrum owned by various companies in the hopes to benefit from combined service offerings and network resources (with the intent that cable companies are able to provide content using the network as a MVNO: Mobile Virtual Network Operator)
- As of June 2009, there were roughly 475 deployments of WiMax in 140 countries reaching nearly 430 million people worldwide (numbers include planned, in-process and commercialized networks)
- Looking beyond 2009, Verizon Wireless (along with MetroPCS Wireless and U.S. Cellular) will be the lead network operator touting the LTE standard for 4G (competing alongside Sprint’s WiMax offering)

Source: http://www.itbusinessedge.com/cm/community/features/articles/blog/lte-versus-wimax-moves-from-theoretical-to-real/?cs=34099