WiMAX

1
WiMAX

• Henry Ho
• CIS 410
• Spring 2005
• Prof. Sabet

2
Current Internet access technologies

• Broadband
• DSL
• Cable
• WiFi hotspots
• Dial-up

3
WiMAX Highlights

• Speed
• Faster than broadband service
• Wireless
• Not having to lay cables reduces cost
• Easier to extend to suburban and rural areas
• Broad coverage
• Much wider coverage than WiFi hotspots

4
WiMAX Highlights

• WiMAX
• Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access
• Is a certification mark for products that pass
  conformity and interoperability tests for the
  IEEE 802.16

5
WiMAX System Parts

• WiMAX tower
• Similar in concept to a cell-phone tower
• Can provide coverage to a very large area -- as
  big as 3,000 square miles
• A WiMAX receiver
• The receiver and antenna could be a small box or
  PCMCIA card, or they could be built into a laptop
  the way WiFi access is today

6
WiMAX System Parts

• A tower station can connect directly to the
  Internet using a high-bandwidth, wired connection
  
• It can also connect to another WiMAX tower using
  a line-of-sight, microwave link.
• Often referred to as a backhaul
• Allows WiMAX to provide coverage to remote rural
  areas.

7
(No Transcript)
8
Two forms of wireless service

• Non-line-of-sight
• A small antenna on your computer connects to the
  tower
• 2 GHz to 11 GHz frequency range
• Limited to a 4-to-6 mile radius

9
Two forms of wireless service

• Line-of-sight service
• A fixed dish antenna points straight at the WiMAX
  tower from a rooftop or pole.
• 66 GHz frequency range
• Higher frequencies, there is less interference
  and lots more bandwidth
• 30-mile radius

10
Specifications

• Range
• 30-mile radius from base station
• Speed
• 70 megabits per second
• Line-of-sight not needed between user and base
  station

11

• In practical terms, WiMAX would operate similar
  to WiFi but at higher speeds, over greater
  distances and for a greater number of users.

12
WiFi hotspot replacement

• Cities might pay to have WiMAX base stations set
  up in key areas for business and commerce and
  then allow people to use them for free.
• Similar to free WiFi hotspots, but wider range
• Some companies might set up WiMAX transmitters
  and then make people pay for access.
• Similar to paid WiFi hotspots, but wider range

13
DSL/cable modem replacement

• Current high speed access method
• The cable (or phone) company has a line that runs
  into your home.
• That line goes to a cable modem, and another line
  runs from the modem to your computer.
• If you have a home network, first it goes to a
  router and then on to the other computers on the
  network.

14
DSL/cable modem replacement

• WiMAX access method
• An Internet service provider sets up a WiMAX base
  station.
• You would buy a WiMAX-enabled computer or upgrade
  your old computer to add WiMAX capability.
• You would receive a special encryption code that
  would give you access to the base station.
• The base station would beam data from the
  Internet to your computer
• If you have a home network, the WiMAX base
  station would send data to a WiMAX-enabled
  router, which would then send the data to the
  different computers on your network.

15
VOIP

• The WiMAX protocol is designed to accommodate
  several different methods of data transmission,
  one of which is Voice Over Internet Protocol
  (VoIP).

16
Dates

• SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 18, 2005 - Intel
  Corporation today announced the availability of
  its first WiMAX product, providing equipment
  manufacturers and carriers the ability to deliver
  next-generation wireless broadband networks
  around the world.
• Several service providers worldwide announced
  plans to begin commercial WiMAX trials based on
  Intel silicon products later this year,