|
WiMAX: Wireless network of the future? |
|
|
|
|
Written by Kory Mohr
|
|
Tuesday, 10 May 2005 |
|
Amended from Channel News Asia:  SINGAPORE : First, there was WiFi 802.11 and its different flavours of a, b and g for wireless connectivity to local area networks (LANs).
Now, the buzz is all about WiMAX 802.16, the next-generation standard that has the potential to provide high-speed broadband wireless access cost-efficiently to large metropolitan area networks. WiMAX is not available yet, but proponents have been enthusing about its many merits: Cheap installation, easy deployment, high transmission speeds - with data rates of up to 70MBps - and a range of up to 50km. It is widely viewed as a flexible and hassle-free way to deliver end-user broadband access in remote areas.
Like WiFi, there is more than one strand of WiMAX, the main variants being the 802.16REVd "fixed wireless" and the 802.16e "nomadic/semi-mobile wireless". A third flavour, 802.20 "mobile wireless", has yet to be determined but is expected to be adopted as an industry standard further down the road. 802.16REVd enables wireless network connectivity to fixed locations while 802.16e and 802.20 are targeted at mobile users.
802.16REVd provides non-line-of-sight broadband connectivity, said Dr Ivan Tam, chief technology officer at Alcatel Singapore. This means users no longer need a clear line-of-sight path between their terminals and the broadband base stations.
"As the WiMAX standard evolves into 802.16e, it will provide nomadic computing capability," he said.
"Laptops will have WiMAX capability similar to the WiFi capability of today. However, the area coverage of each WiMAX base station will be significantly larger than the range of WiFi."
This translates to coverage within "hot zones" instead of "hot spots" - great news for mobile workers. Furthermore, users will be able to maintain application-level connectivity as they move from one station to another. |
Technologies 
Advanced Search
