WiMAX Networks

Wireless Air Interface: IEEE 802.16


Fixed WiMAX - IEEE 802.16-2004


Fixed WiMAX is based on 802.16-2004 version of IEEE 802.16 standard and on ETSI HiperMAN. This standard uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Access (OFDMA) and supports fixed and mobile access in line of site (LOS) and also non line of site (NLOS) environments. Currently vendors are developing indoor and outdoor Customer Premises Equipment and laptop PCMCIA cards for WiMAX applications. The initial WiMAX profiles (see below) are in the 3.5 GHz frequency band. The first certified comercial WiMAX products were sold in 2006.

Mobile WiMAX - IEEE 802.16e


Mobile WiMAX is based on IEEE 802.16e standard and is optimised for dynamic mobile radio channels. 802.16e is an amendment of the IEEE 802.16-2004 standard. This amendment  supports handover and roaming and uses Scalable Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Access (SOFDMA), a multi carrier modulation technique, that uses sub-channelization. Service providers that deploy 802.16e can also use the network to provide fixed services. The WiMAX Forum has not yet announced the frequency bands for the 802.16e profiles, but 2.3 GHz and 2.5 GHz are the most likely initial candidates. Certification is expected to start in the middle of 2006, when the certification labs open. The first certified products will be available in the first quarter of 2007.

 

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Applications for 802.16-2004 and 802.16e WiMAX networks

WiMAX is a broadband wireless technology that supports fixed, nomadic, portable and mobile access. In order to meet the requirements of  these four different access types, two versions of WiMAX have been defined. The first is based on IEEE 802.16-2004 standard and is optimized for fixed and nomadic access. The second one, based on IEEE 802.16e, is an amendment of 802.16-2004 and supports portability and mobility.
Definition
Device
Locations / Speed
Handoffs
802.16-2004
802.16e
Fixed access
 Outdoor and indoor CPEs
 Single / stationary
 No
 yes
 yes
Nomadic access
 Indoor CPEs amd PCMCIA cards
 Multiple / stationary
 No
 yes
 yes
Portability
 Notbook PCMCIA cards or mini cards
 Multiple / walking speed
 Hard handoffs
 no
 yes
Simple mobility
 Notbook PCMCIA cards, mini cards, PDAs or smartphones
 Multiple / low vehicular spped
 Hard handoffs
 no
 yes
Full mobility
 Notbook PCMCIA cards, mini cards, PDAs or smartphones Multiple / high vehicular spped Soft handoffs
 no
 yes


WiMAX Forum certification profiles

The WiMAX Forum™ is an industry-led, non-profit corporation formed to promote and certify the compatibility and interoperability of Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) products using the IEEE 802.16 and ETSI HiperMAN wireless MAN specifications. All currently certification profiles developed by the members of the WiMAX Forum are listed below.

Frequency
Duplexing
Channel bandwidth
IEEE standard
3400 - 3600 MHz
 TDD
 3.5 MHz
 802.16-2004
3400 - 3600 MHz
 FDD
 3.5MHz
 802.16-2004
3400 - 3600 MHz
 TDD
 7.0 MHz
 802.16-2004
3400 - 3600 MHz
 FDD
 7.0 MHz
 802.16-2004
5725 - 5850 MHz
 TDD
 10.0 MHz
 802.16-2004


Presentation

Presentation: WiMAX Network Planning
(Fixed and Mobile WiMAX)



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Fixed WiMAX Brochure


Download brochure: Fixed WiMAX.

Mobile WiMAX Brochure


Download brochure: Mobile WiMAX