WiMAX is an OFDMA-based, all-IP, data-centric technology ideal for use in delivering mobile 4G services. WiMAX is currently being used by operators across the world precisely for this purpose. Today, you can find WiMAX embedded in many devices including USB dongles, WiFi devices, laptops, and cellular phones.
WiMAX is based on the IEEE 802.16 standard family, and meets all the requirements for personal broadband. In addition to providing 24/7 Internet access anywhere, WiMAX supports high data rates, high sector throughput, multiple handoff mechanisms, power-saving mechanisms for mobile devices, advanced QoS and low latency for improved support of real-time applications, advanced authorization, authentication, and accounting (AAA) functionality.
In September 2013, the WiMAX Forum officially approved an updated technical network evolution roadmap to support the continued evolution of the WiMAX ecosystem. Recognizing Service Providers’ need for flexibility to manage an ever-increasing demand for broadband data, the WiMAX Forum embraces a network evolution path to accommodate harmonization and coexistence across multiple broadband wireless access technologies within a WiMAX Advanced network.
This path promotes a smooth and cost-effective, backwards-compatible transition to WiMAX Advanced for both network and subscriber equipment. Since early 2014, the WiMAX Forum has been in a strategic partnership with Global LTE TDD (GTI), guaranteeing WiMAX Advanced is fully compatible with LTE TDD, which ensures operators are able to share economy of scale of LTE TDD and provide service with either Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) or International Mobile Telecom (IMT)-Advanced network implementations. More details can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
WiMAX Advanced leverages WiMAX technology’s all-IP broadband data network capabilities to enable WiMAX operators to access a broader ecosystem of devices and radio access technologies to more easily operate within a multi radio access network environment. WiMAX Advanced will allow WiMAX operators flexibility to support additional broadband wireless access technologies and devices beyond WiMAX Release 1.0 and Release 2.0.
The WiMAX Forum’s updated roadmap is a comprehensive effort to leverage the inherent flexibility of the WiMAX standard to provide affordable wireless broadband across multiple industries worldwide. The WiMAX Forum reiterates its full commitment to its main projects and member ecosystems as it relates to Mobile WiMAX Release 1, Release 2 and WiMAX for vertical markets including AeroMACS and WiGRID. The WiMAX Forum also believes that the revised roadmap enables the Forum to better serve and extend the existing member ecosystem, and strengthen its effort to deliver on its Mission and Vision.
In September 2014, the WiMAX Forum published a white paper entitled, “WiMAX Advanced: Deployment Scenarios Based on Input from WiMAX Operators and Vendors,” providing deployment options to the existing WiMAX operators based on the results of a survey conducted by the WiMAX Forum across its key members. Operators need vendor support to retain as many elements as possible from their current deployments, including their tower sites, RAN, backhaul, core networks, and services without any restrictions on their spectrum licenses. You can read the entire white paper here.
