From TheBestLinks.com
IEEE 802.16 is working group number 16 of IEEE 802, specializing in point-to-point broadband wireless access. It also is known as WiMAX, an acronym that stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access.
Similar Technologies
What differentiates WiMAX from earlier broadband wireless access (BWA) iterations is standardization. Chipsets are currently custom-built for each broadband wireless access vendor, adding time and cost to the process.
Its equivalent or competitor in Europe is HIPERMAN.
Technical Advantages
WiMax does not conflict with WiFi but actually complements it.
WiMAX is a wireless metropolitan area network (MAN) technology that will connect 802.11(WiFi) hotspots to the Internet and provide a wireless extension to cable and DSL for last mile (last km) broadband access. 802.16 provides up to 50 km (31 miles) of linear service area range and allows users connectivity without a direct line of sight to a base station. The technology also provides shared data rates up to 70 Mbit/s, which, according to WiMax proponents, is enough bandwidth to simultaneously support more than 60 businesses with T1-type connectivity and hundreds of homes at DSL-type connectivity.
An important aspect of the 802.16 is that it defines a MAC layer that supports multiple physical layer (PHY) specifications. This is crucial to allow equipment makers to differentiate their offerings.
Expectations
WiMax is referred to as "WiFi on steroids". It has the potential to enable even more millions to access the internet wirelessly, cheaply and easily. The WiMax wireless coverage is measured in square kilometers (miles) while that of WiFi is measured in square meters (yards). A WiMax base station would beam high-speed Internet connections to homes and businesses in a radius of up 50 km (30 miles); these base stations will eventually beam to an entire metropolitan area, making that area into a WMAN and allowing true wireless mobility within it, as opposed to hot-spot hopping required by WiFi. The proponents are hoping that the technology will eventually be used in notebook computers and PDAs. True roaming cell-like wireless broadband, however, is IEEE standard 802.20, which is compatible with WiMax.
A further benefit of the WiMax standard is that it relies on 11Ghz radio signals as opposed to the 2.4Ghz radio signals used by WiFi. This enables the signal to more readily travel through obstructions such as trees and walls.
Product Release
Products are expected to be announced second quarter of 2005.
External link
de:Wimax
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