Abstract:
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) is a standards-based
wireless technology for providing high-speed, last-mile broadband connectivity to
homes and businesses and for mobile wireless networks. WiMAX is similar to Wi-Fi
but offers larger bandwidth, stronger encryption, and improved performance over
longer distances by connecting between receiving stations that are not in the line of
sight. WiMAX uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Modulation (OFDM) technology,
which
has
a
lower
power
consumption
rate.
WiMAX
can
be
used
for
a
number
of
applications,
including
last-mile
broadband
connections,
hotspots
and
cellular
backhaul,
and
high-speed
enterprise
connectivity
for
business.
It
supports
broadband
services
such
as
VoIP
or
video.
WiMAX
is
also
a
possibility
for
backhaul
technology
in
municipal
Wi-Fi
networks.
WiMAX
or
802.16
is
definitely
a
hot
topic
and
has
a
fair
list
of
industry
supporters.
Internationally,
WiMAX
has
been
finding
a
home
among
emerging
markets
that
don’t
have
a
decent
wired
infrastructure.
In
the
United
States,
several carriers, such as wireless, wireline, and cable operators, have voiced
interest in WiMAX. Intel is shipping its highly integrated WiMAX chip, Rosedale.
The Pro/Wireless 5116 chip has two ARM9 cores and an OFDM modem, and targets
low-cost, low-chip-count access points and gateways supporting WiMAX. Intel is
also working on putting Wi-Fi and WiMAX on the same chip. WiMAX equipment
makers, such as Nortel Networks Ltd. and Motorola, say they have been garnering
interest from cable providers.
WiMAX is essentially a next-generation wireless technology that enhances
broadband wireless access. WiMAX comes in two varieties, fixed wireless and
mobile. The fixed version, known as 802.16d-2004, was designed to be a replacement
or supplement for broadband cable access or DSL. A recently ratified version,
802.16e-2005,
also
can
support
fixed
wireless
applications,
but
it
allows
for
roaming
among
base
stations
as
well.
Thus,
the
two
standards
are
generally
known
as
fixed WiMAX and mobile WiMAX. WiMAX is designed to run in licensed
bands of spectrum. It is a more innovative and commercially viable adaptation of a
technology already used to deliver broadband wireless services in proprietary installations
around
the
globe.
Wireless
broadband
access
systems
are
already
deployed
in
more
than
125
countries.
WiMAX,
like
Wi-Fi,
uses
unregulated
radio
frequency
spectrum,
but
unlike
Wi-Fi,
it
does
not
require
line
of
sight
and
is
not
limited
to
a
dozen
or
so
clients
per
access
point.
WiMAX
can
deliver
ultra-fast
Internet
access
over
many
miles.
WiMAX
is
primarily
built
around
broadband
data,
rather
than
voice,
whereas
3G
is
primarily
built
around
voice,
with
support
for
data
services.
WiMAX could prove disruptive to wireless carriers. Existing mobile operators who
want to provide broadband data and voice services could also utilize the technology.
WiMAX
is
also
expected
to
solve
the
problems
of
rural
connectivity,
as
it
is
suited
for
remote
places
that
don’t
have
an
established
infrastructure
of
power
lines
or
telephone
poles.
WiMAX
offers
both
increased
range
and
download
speeds.
The
demand
for
broadband
connectivity
from
urban
homes
and
SMBs
is
growing
rapidly, but this cannot be met effectively by existing wireline technologies.
Today, we live in a world where communication has evolved into a landscape that
a person in 1990 would scarcely recognize. WiMAX has the potential to provide
widespread Internet access that can usher in economic growth, better education
and health care, and improved entertainment services. WiMAX can be described
as a framework for the evolution of wireless “broadband” rather than a static implementation
of
wireless
technologies.
Due
to
the
trend
toward
mobile
applications,
WiMAX
has
a
promising
future.
This
sounds
ambitious,
but
it
may
indeed
be
just
what
history
has
shown:
when
the
highway
is
built
the
traffic
will
follow.
Low
network
investment
costs
and
non-line-of-sight
operation
over
licensed
or
non-licensed
radio
spectrum
make
WiMAX
an
attractive
technology.
The
ongoing
development
of
the
technology
is
expected
to
see
WiMAX
in
digital
cameras,
phones,
and
iPod
devices.
Mobile WiMAX is based on OFDMA technology, which has inherent
advantages in throughput, latency, spectral efficiency, and advanced antennae sup-
port, ultimately enabling it to provide higher performance than today’s wide area
wireless technologies. Many next-generation 4G wireless technologies may evolve
toward OFDMA, and all IP-based networks are ideal for delivering cost-effective
wireless data services. Although we all look forward to WiMAX Mobile and 4G,
we can take a large step along the path to this vision of broadband ubiquity via
portable services.
The WiMAX Forum is an industry nonprofit group that establishes standards
for
the
emerging
technology.
The
WiMAX
Forum’s
goal
is
to
accelerate
the
introduction
of standard broadband devices into the market with fully interoperable
WiMAX Forum Certified products supporting metropolitan area fixed,
portable, and mobile broadband applications. Certification means that a WiMAX
device complies with the IEEE 802.16 and ETSI HiperMAN standards based on
100 percent success in a series of authorized WiMAX Forum tests covering protocol
conformance,
radio
conformance,
and
device
interoperability.
Product
certification
is
a
positive
development
for
carriers
seeking
interoperable
equipment
choices.
The WiMAX Forum is already working toward a framework that will encourage
the establishment of global roaming relationships among service providers.
The purpose of this book is to present WiMAX as a revolutionary wireless
technology that, we believe, could change the wireless technology landscape considerably.
This
book
presents
the
unique
features
of
WiMAX
technology
and
evaluates
the
revolutionary
approach
of
WiMAX
over
contemporary
technologies.
This
book
also
showcases
the
ongoing
WiMAX
development
and
deployment
activities
around
the world. It analyzes future prospects of WiMAX and its contribution
to the wireless and mobile communication technology field. It also explores the
economic and opportunity costs of WiMAX implementation. This book covers
the mission, product, and services of WiMAX as well as its specific features, such
as security and mobile WiMAX. This book presents the best features of WiMAX
technology for wireless and can be used as a guide for WiMAX for students, engineers,
scientists,
professionals,
telecommunication
business
leaders,
and
technology
lovers.
This
book
is
comprised
of
six
chapters
and
the
scope
of
the
chapters
is
summarized
in
the
following
text.
The
first chapter provides a complete introduction to WiMAX technology
followed by an introduction to the WiMAX Forum and its activities. Chapter 2
presents contemporary technologies of WiMAX such as Wi-Fi, 3G, WiBro, etc.
Chapter 3 showcases various features of WiMAX technology and provides a complete
technical
discussion.
Chapters
4
and
5,
respectively,
present
the
development
and
deployment
trends
of
WiMAX
technology
around
globe.
Finally,
the
last
chapter
presents
an
analysis
of
WiMAX’s
future
prospects.
This
chapter
also
showcases
a
few
applications
of
WiMAX
technology,
such
as
rural
deployment,
where
we
are
personally
involved.
We
also
give
some
of
our
research
concepts
on
WiMAX
security,
etc.,
in
this
same
chapter.
We
would
like
to
thank
Professor
Datuk
Dr.
Ghauth
Jasmon,
president
of
Multimedia
University
(MMU),
Malaysia,
and
Dr.
Ewe
Hong
Tat,
dean
of
the
faculty
of information technology at MMU for kind assistance and support. Our special
thanks to Professor Alfredo Terzoli and Professor Hippolyte N’sung-nza Muyingi
of Telkom Center of Excellence, South Africa, for their valuable comments and indepth
discussions.
Much
of
this
book’s
content
was
collected
through
continuous
monitoring
of
the
Internet
for
the
last
few
years.
Thanks
to
the
Internet
and
special
thanks
to
“Google
Alerts.”
Acknowledgments
are
due
to
Rich
O’
Hanley
and
Catherine
Giacari
of
Taylor
&
Francis
for
production
of
this
book.
Their
efficiency
and
amiable
manner
made
working
together
a
pleasure.
We
are
grateful
to
all
others
who
have
indirectly
helped
us
in
successfully
bringing
out
this
book.