Need to know: WiMax

Laptop users could drive WiMax adoption

What is WiMax?

WiMax stands for worldwide interoperability for microwave access, a term describing a wireless broadband technology, which is derived from the industry-led organisation the WiMax Forum, and based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16 wireless metropolitan area network and European Telecommunications Standards Institute HiperMAN standards.

What is the current status of the more important IEEE 802.16 standard?

In December 2005, the IEEE announced the approval of amendment 802.16e of the standard, which would support both fixed clients and moving clients at vehicular speeds.

Headline downlink speeds have been touted as a maximum 70Mbit/s, with a maximum range of 50km, but not simultaneously. Ultimately speeds and range will be a fraction of the above, because of a dependence on the radio spectrum available ­ usually under 6GHz ­ the number of clients and the speed they require.

Can I buy WiMax equipment now?

Certified WiMax hardware is available now, but mass WiMax adoption is expected to follow the WiFi model, whereby embedded client hardware, especially in laptops, drove adoption.

What are the cost and benefit implications?

The key for users is service pricing. WiMax providers are touting the costs of rolling out WiMax networks as significantly less than today’s cellular networks.

Besides price, the other benefit would be the potential for faster uplink and downlink speeds than those available with current 3G mobile phone networks.

What is WiMax’s future in the UK?

In developed countries with mature wired networks such as the UK, which also has a large 3G wireless broadband footprint, WiMax rollouts could struggle to prove a business case.

Problems include availability of radio spectrum, mast sites and client devices. The important radio spectrum auction, which should make countrywide WiMax frequencies available, will take place before the end of the year, under the auspices of regulator Ofcom. Intel will embed WiMax hardware in variants of its upcoming Centrino 2 platform, but the UK is not the primary market.

Key WiMax technology players and current deployments

WiMax vendors include Alvarion, AirSpan, Intel and Nortel. Current WiMax deployments and trials include: Urban WiMax in London, UK Broadband in the Thames Valley, Freedom4 in Manchester, Milton Keynes and Warwick, and the Mobile WiMax Acceleration Group in Maidstone.