Wireless Networks

Lecture 5
Dr. Omar Ashagi

Evolution of broadband wireless

(WiMax)
preparatory systems
Different performance capability
Protocols
Operating frequency

checkered record
Lack of common standard

Evolution of broadband wireless

(WiMax) cont..
WiMax (Wireless Interoperability Microwave
Access) is a telecommunications technology
(group of standards) that provides wireless
transmission of data using a variety of
transmission modes, from point-to-multipoint
links to portable and fully mobile internet
access

Evolution of broadband wireless

(WiMax) cont..
WiMax has evolved through four stages
Narrowband Wireless Local-Loop Systems
first-generation line-of-sight (LOS) broadband
systems
second-generation non-line-of-sight (NLOS)
broadband systems
standards-based broadband wireless systems

Narrowband Wireless Local-Loop

Systems

Originally Developed for voice services

Developed by several vendors
It is called Wireless local loop (WLL)
Intended for developing countries
It is based on different technologies
Digital enhanced cordless telephone (DECT)
Code division multiple access (CDMA)

In late 90s WLL operators start to offer Internet

Mostly in license-exempt band (900MHz and 2.4 GHz)
Limited deployment speed (up to few 100s KB)

First-Generation Broadband Systems

Evolved after the DSL to support much higher speed
It is initially deployed for higher frequency such as 2.4
and 3.5 GHz bands
Late 1990 very high speed called local multipoint
distribution system is deployed
Operates in higher frequencies such as 24 and 39 GHz
bands
Supports hundreds of Mb/s
Short range
It require installation of rooftop antenna

First-Generation Broadband Systems

Multichannel multipoint distribution systems
(MMDS) at 2.5GHz is deployed in late 1990
Supports high data rate wider coverage range
compared to LMDS
Replaces the wireless broadcast cable services
Requires LOS
Rooftop antennas

Second-Generation Broadband
Systems
Based on advanced digital transmission
technique
CDMA, OFDM

Multiple antenna
Advanced signal processing technique
Does not require LOS
Provides more capacity

Emergence of Standards-Based
Technology
IEEE 802.16 working group was formed in 1998 to
develop a standard for Metropolitan Area Network
(MAN)
The band of interest was 10-60 GHz
Developed Primarily to deliver high speed connections
to businesses
2001 First standard was released
Based on single carrier modulation technique
Time division Multiplexing (TDM) based MAC layer
TDD and FDD duplexing schemes

Emergence of Standards-Based
Technology
2003 IEEE 802.16a the release of first standard
amendment
Extends and modifying the operating
frequency to both license and license-exempt
2-11 GHz range
OFDM added as part of the PHY layer
Supports OFDMA MAC
2004 the IEEE 802.16 was released to replace
the 802.16 and 802.16a

Emergence of Standards-Based
Technology
2003 work group was formed to look into
supporting mobility
IEEE 802.16e was released in 2005 that
include mobility support
Supports scalable OFDM in PHY layer
Enhances MAC layer to support high speed
mobility

Salient Features of WiMAX

OFDM-based physical layer

Very high peak data rates
Scalable bandwidth and data rate support
Adaptive modulation and coding (AMC)
Link-layer retransmissions
Support for TDD and FDD
Orthogonal frequency division multiple access
Flexible and dynamic per user resource allocation
Support for advanced antenna techniques
Quality-of-service support
Robust security
Support for mobility
IP-based architecture