Understanding WiMAX Technology

Consider the ways you connect to the Internet today. There are essentially three primary methods:

The primary issues with broadband access are its high cost and limited availability. WiFi access struggles with small hotspots, leading to insufficient coverage.

Imagine if there were a breakthrough technology that addressed all of these challenges. This new technology would offer:

This technology is already in development, and it is known as WiMAX. WiMAX stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, and it is also recognized as IEEE standard 802.16.

WiMAX has the potential to revolutionize broadband Internet access the same way cell phones transformed telecommunications. Just as many people have switched from landlines to cell phones, WiMAX could replace cable and DSL, offering near-universal Internet access anywhere. WiMAX will also be as user-friendly as WiFi—simply turning on your device will automatically connect you to the nearest available WiMAX antenna.

In this article, we will explore how WiMAX operates, the advancements engineers are making to improve it, and its potential impact on the future of wireless Internet.

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WiMAX Wireless Network

In practical terms, WiMAX would function similarly to WiFi but with faster speeds, longer range, and support for more users. WiMAX has the potential to eliminate broadband gaps in suburban and rural areas that currently lack Internet access due to phone and cable companies not having laid the necessary infrastructure in these remote regions.

A WiMAX system consists of two main components:

A WiMAX tower station can connect to the Internet through a high-speed, wired connection (such as a T3 line). It can also link to another WiMAX tower via a line-of-sight, microwave connection. This ability to connect to a second tower, known as backhaul, combined with the extensive coverage area of a single tower, enables WiMAX to reach even the most remote rural regions.

This highlights the fact that WiMAX can actually offer two types of wireless services:

WiFi-style coverage will be limited to a 4-to-6 mile radius (around 25 square miles or 65 square km), which is similar to a typical cell-phone coverage area. However, with stronger line-of-sight antennas, the WiMAX transmission station can deliver data to WiMAX-enabled devices or routers within a 30-mile radius (covering 2,800 square miles or 9,300 square km), unlocking WiMAX's full range capabilities.

The final stage in area network expansion is the global area network (GAN). The proposed standard for GAN is IEEE 802.20. A true GAN would function similarly to today’s cell phone networks, allowing users to stay connected while traveling across the country. This network would offer enough bandwidth to deliver Internet speeds similar to cable modem service, but it would also be accessible on mobile, always-connected devices like laptops or future cell phones.

WiMAX Coverage and Speed

WiMAX operates on the same general principles as WiFi—it transmits data between devices using radio signals. A WiMAX-enabled computer (either desktop or laptop) receives data from the WiMAX transmission station, likely utilizing encrypted data keys to prevent unauthorized access to the network.

The fastest WiFi connection can achieve a maximum speed of 54 megabits per second under ideal conditions. WiMAX, however, has the potential to handle speeds of up to 70 megabits per second. Even if that 70 megabits is shared among multiple businesses or several hundred home users, each user will still experience speeds comparable to those of a cable modem connection.

The main distinction isn't speed; it's distance. WiMAX far exceeds WiFi in terms of range. While WiFi's range is limited to about 100 feet (30 meters), WiMAX can cover a radius of up to 30 miles (50 kilometers) with wireless access. The extended range is made possible by the frequencies used and the power of the transmitter. Although factors like terrain, weather, and large buildings can reduce this range in certain conditions, WiMAX can potentially cover vast expanses of land.

IEEE 802.16 Specifications

WiMAX Cost

A citywide blanket of wireless Internet coverage sounds promising, but companies aren't going to deploy WiMAX base stations out of goodwill. The big question remains: Who's going to fund WiMAX?

The cost of WiMAX depends on its intended application. It can be implemented in two main ways: as a zone where individual users can access the Internet on their laptops (the non-line-of-sight "super WiFi" model), or as a line-of-sight hub that provides hundreds of customers with a consistent, high-speed, always-on wireless connection.

In the "super WiFi" model, cities may invest in setting up WiMAX base stations in key commercial and business areas, offering free access to the public. This concept mirrors current WiFi hotspots, but instead of placing multiple WiFi hotspots over small areas, a single WiMAX base station could cover an entire financial district. This approach could be a major incentive for city leaders trying to attract businesses to their regions.

Some companies might deploy WiMAX transmitters and charge users for access. This model mirrors the one used for WiFi, but it covers a significantly broader area. Rather than moving from one hotspot to another, WiMAX-enabled users could access the Internet anywhere within a 30-mile radius of the base station. These companies may offer a flat-rate plan with unlimited access or a pay-as-you-go option that charges by the minute or hour.

The high-speed wireless hub concept holds potential for a major breakthrough. If you're currently using high-speed Internet, it's likely set up this way: The cable or phone company provides a line to your home, connecting to a modem, which then links to your computer. If you have a home network, the signal passes through a router to the other devices. You pay a monthly fee to the provider, which partly covers the cost of running cables to every home in the area.

Next, we will delve into how WiMAX can benefit you and your home network.

WiMAX Technology at Home

Here’s how WiMAX would function in your home: An Internet service provider installs a WiMAX base station 10 miles from your residence. You would either purchase a WiMAX-enabled computer or upgrade your existing device with a WiMAX-compatible adapter. You’d be given an encryption code that grants access to the base station. The base station would send Internet data to your device at speeds potentially surpassing those of current cable modems. In return, you would pay a monthly fee to the provider, which could be significantly lower than the costs of current high-speed Internet services, since the provider doesn’t need to lay any cables.

If you have a home network, there wouldn't be much of a change. The WiMAX base station would transmit data to a WiMAX-enabled router, which would then distribute the data to your various devices. You could even combine WiFi with WiMAX by setting up the router to send the data to your devices wirelessly via WiFi.

WiMAX isn't just a competitor to DSL and cable-modem services. The WiMAX protocol is built to support a range of data transmission methods, including Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). VoIP enables users to make local, long-distance, and international calls through a broadband connection, bypassing traditional phone services. If WiMAX-compatible devices become widespread, the use of VoIP could see a huge spike, allowing virtually anyone with a laptop to make calls.