Essay on WiMax

To many people, WiMAX already means portable wireless broadband service--sort of a bigger, better Wi-Fi. There's an element of truth in that characterization, because WiMAX (short for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, and the nickname for the IEEE's 802.16 metropolitan wireless standards), will be able to reach farther and achieve higher throughputs than Wi-Fi (for Wireless Fidelity, the nickname for the IEEE's 802.11 wireless LAN specifications).

But certified WiMAX components, products and networks aren't here yet, and the portable version is a year or two behind the fixed version. Fixed WiMAX, officially known as 802.16-2004, was ratified last year by the IEEE, and certification is getting under way. The WiMAX Forum, a vendor coalition devoted to boosting 802.16's prospects, will begin certifying radios in the 3.5 GHz frequency--a choice driven by global market considerations--in 3Q05, with deployments of certified gear beginning early in 2006. Certification for radios serving other frequencies--including the unlicensed 5.8 GHz and the licensed 2.5 GHz, both more applicable than 3.5GHz in North American markets--will follow in the first half of 2007. (Berners-Lee, Tim, 2001)

For mobile WiMAX, officially 802.16e, carriers and consumers could be waiting until 2007 or longer for certified equipment. The IEEE expects to ratify the 802.16e standard by the end of 2005, with chips coming to market in 2006, certification beginning late 2006 and commercial production in 2007. We expect 2008 to be the first year for significant commercial deployments. It is likely that first-generation 802.16e equipment will be portable, with mobility following in subsequent generations(Brown, John Seely, and Paul Duguid, 2000). Mobile means being able to stay connected as you move about, from one cell to another, at a relatively high rate of speed.

The Korean WiBro Standard, which is very similar to and will interoperate with 802.16e, is further along than 802.16e, with equipment expected for the Korean market in 2006......................

ESSAYS ON TECHNOLOGY