Frequently Asked Questions
- What is WiMAX technology?
WiMAX™ is based upon the IEEE 802.16 standard enabling the delivery of wireless broadband services anytime, anywhere. WiMAX products can accommodate fixed and mobile usage models. The IEEE 802.16 standard was developed to deliver non-line-of-sight (LoS) connectivity between a subscriber station and base station with typical cell radius of three to ten kilometers. All base stations and subscriber stations claiming to be WiMAX compliant must go through a rigorous WiMAX Forum Certified™ testing process.
- What is the data transfer speed of WiMAX technology for end users?
Users can expect to have broadband access speeds ranging from 1-5 Mbps depending on the service provider offering. Plus, there is a range difference because it depends on a number of factors, including which frequency is being used, distance of the user from the base station or node, whether there is line of site or NLoS to the base station, and the number of users on the network.
When the WiMAX Forum refers to 40 Mbps, it is referring ta single channel in wireless frequency (as part of the network) that is likely shared among multiple users. Individual users will have access to that amount of capacity, but the likelihood is they will have the ability to achieve downlink speeds of 1-5 Mbps, which is similar to the cable experience. There is the potential to burst to higher speeds, but that would depend on the operator's plans and business model.
- What are the key elements of WiMAX technology?
A key differentiator for WiMAX is the interoperability of WiMAX Forum Certified equipment, resulting in mass volume economy of scale and assurance for service providers that when buying equipment from more than one company, the technologies are interoperable. The WiMAX Forum has assembled an alliance of leaders in the communications and computing industries to drive a common platform for the global deployment of IP-based broadband wireless services. Other key elements include cost, coverage, capacity and standards for all wireless usage models.
- Standard for all usage models (fixed to mobile): By leveraging the same technology networks, WiMAX technology will become the most cost-effective solution for carriers to deploy for any usage model including fixed, portable, nomadic and mobile.
- Wider coverage: The technology behind WiMAX is optimized to provide excellent non-line-of-sight (NLoS) coverage. NLoS advantages are coverage of wider areas, better predictability of coverage and lower cost as it means fewer base stations and backhaul, simple RF planning, shorter towers and faster CPE install times.
- Higher capacity: WiMAX technology utilizes Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) over EDGE, GPRS, HSPA to deliver higher bandwidth efficiency and therefore higher data throughput, with more than one Mbps downstream and higher data rates. Adaptive modulation also increases link reliability for carrier-class operation and the possibility to keep higher order modulation at wider distance extend full capacity over longer distances.
- Lower cost: A standards based platform for WiMAX technology drives down costs delivering volume economics to WiMAX equipment.
- Where is WiMAX deployed?
As of May 2009, WiMAX Forum has tracking 475 network deployments in 140 countries. Please visit WiMAX Maps at www.wimaxmaps.org. WiMAX Maps is an interactive WiMAX deployment mapping database provided by WiMAX Forum and powered by Informa Telecoms & Media’s World Cellular Information Service (WCIS) using the familiar Google Maps API.
- What will WiMAX services offer to the average consumer?
WiMAX will provide broadband connectivity anywhere, anytime, for any device and on any network. WiMAX will provide high speed internet access where it is currently unavailable, substantially increase data speeds for applications to include online gaming, streaming video, video conferencing, VoIP and location based services and drive wireless Internet equipment and access prices ta competitive price point comparable to cable, DSL, and fiber Internet services. A few regional examples include:
- United States: With a robust telecommunications infrastructure already in place, the United States represents a strong market for WiMAX. Mass market Mobile WiMAX services from Clearwire are expected to reach 120 million consumers in 80 markets by the end of 2010. WiMAX is also gaining steam providing rural broadband coverage, with several companies, such as Digital Bridge Communications, launching solutions to bring broadband to those consumers with no access to DSL or other broadband technologies
- India: Basic internet services are not available in most homes in India. Currently broadband penetration in India is four million out of the more than one billion consumers, which is one broadband connection per 300 consumers. There are already several operators offering WiMAX services in India today. For instance, Tata Communications plans to bring a mix of fixed and mobile broadband services to homes and small businesses around the country to meet the growing need for such services. Tata’s goal is to develop a profitable business model with single digit ARPU and affordable devices that can be replicated in other developing countries.
- Taiwan: Continuing its leadership in the development and deployment of WiMAX operability, Taiwan had six commercial WiMAX licenses awarded in July 2007 for six separate Taiwanese wireless communication providers. In regions like Taiwan, where users are spread out and the wireless traffic is going a long distance, WiMAX technology provides a reliable, inexpensive solution for constant wireless broadband connectivity.
- South Asia: South Asia will continue to be home to some of the fastest growing wireless markets in the world. South Asian markets currently show significant consumer and business interest in both fixed and mobile broadband and this region is witnessing some of the world’s biggest deployments of WiMAX. According tJuniper Research, South Asia will be the driving force behind the growth of Mobile WiMAX, and the APAC region is expected to account for more than 50% of the total WiMAX deployments by 2013.
- Africa: As a continent with many rapidly developing nations that have little to no fixed infrastructure, Africa provides an ideal environment for WiMAX. WiMAX technology provides the opportunity to connect the African people with Internet and VOIP services faster and more affordably than any other option – and governments agree, with almost all African governments awarding spectrum for WiMAX.
- Latin America: Latin America has demonstrated a significant growth in telephony. Cellular figures are impressive, with the region coming close to 400 million subscribers and, according to Teleco, many countries reaching 80% penetration or more. But despite strong cellular up take there is still an enormous gap in broadband access and penetration. The largest markets in the region are only now reaching 20 million broadband connections. However, in order for supply to reach demand, there is a need for a friendly regulatory environment and "fit for purpose" spectrum is a key element in that equation. The WiMAX Forum is working closely with government regulators to allow for the advancement of WiMAX technology.
- Australia: Operators such as Unwired Australia have already deployed WiMAX technology to establish affordable and efficient broadband networks. WiMAX technology is perfectly suited for Australia’s urban, suburban and rural areas and the purchase and installation process of WiMAX technology is faster, simpler and cheaper than other offered solutions. Additionally, the non-line-of-sight (NLoS) capability means that WiMAX technology can provide coverage despite the challenges of geography and the limited footprint of wireline.
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There are well over 434 Million WiMAX POPS as of May 2009. The WiMAX Forum forecasts that the technology will reach more than 800 million WiMAX POPS by 2010.
- What applications will WiMAX technology bring to consumers?
WiMAX technology has already brought broadband access to millions of users at a cost performance ratio that is far better than any other technology. Even more importantly, unlike other voice-centric cellular technologies, WiMAX was designed to deliver broadband wireless access in an open Internet architecture.
There is no single application today that will be the "silver bullet" for making mobile broadband take-off with mainstream consumers; however, there are some inventive applications now under development in WiMAX Forum-sponsored applications labs (Taiwan’s Hsinchu Science Park at the M-Taiwan WiMAX Application Lab and The MAXWell Lab applications labs in the United States at the University of Maryland). These applications labs allow WiMAX Forum member companies and university researchers to test their applications on both of these live WiMAX networks. These new applications provide a glimpse of what is possible today, and signal why WiMAX is at the forefront of enabling the next generation of mobile Internet and communications.
The U.S. applications labs at the University of Maryland are deploying a WiMAX network to cover both the campus and local transportation systems. This application lab will offer students campus-wide mobile broadband access via WiMAX. From finding your car in the parking lot to instantaneous access to campus security, including live video feeds from the spot where an emergency call is made, WiMAX will bring information to your fingertips like never before.
For more information on WiMAX applications for a variety of markets please visit the WiMAX Forum’s white paper library at http://www.wimaxforum.org/resources/documents/marketing/whitepapers.
- What types of upgrades will operators have to do to deploy WiMAX services?
A single upgrade move tWiMAX technology’s all IP architecture is a direct step to 4G. It can provide a less costly long term approach compared tLTE and HSPA+ and also provides a significant Time tMarket advantage. LTE is not a simple 3G upgrade as LTE represents a major upgrade from CDMA-Based HSPA (or EV-DO); it is not and never was a "simple" software upgrade.
