Republic of Yemen

Sana’a University
Faculty of Engineering
Electrical Engineering Department
Electronic & Telecommunication section

WIMAX

A RESEARCH PAPER PREPARED BY:

Hisham Hameed Al-Ward (294\2007)
Basem Ahmed Al-Sabri (292\2007)
Jamal Ahmad Al-Selwi (321\2007)

SUPERVISED:
Eng. Yasser M. Alwan
 Contents
Overview:.......................................................................................................................................................................4

The Basic Technology of Wireless:................................................................................................................................5

Determining Radio Network Capacities:....................................................................................................................6

Channel Sharing, Latency and Quality of Service (QoS):............................................................................................6

Security:......................................................................................................................................................................7

WiMAX, The First 4G Technology:.................................................................................................................................8

WHAT IS WIMAX:........................................................................................................................................................8

Why WiMax ?.............................................................................................................................................................9

WiMAX is not Wi-Fi:....................................................................................................................................................9

WiMAX Standards:.......................................................................................................................................................11

IEEE 802.16-2001......................................................................................................................................................11

IEEE 8020.16a-2003..................................................................................................................................................12

IEEE 802.16c-2002................................................................................................................................................12

IEEE 802.16-2004......................................................................................................................................................12

IEEE 802.16e-2005....................................................................................................................................................12

WiMAX Architecture:...................................................................................................................................................14

WiMAX - Reference Network Model........................................................................................................................14

Subscriber stations...................................................................................................................................................16

WiMAX Features:.........................................................................................................................................................17

Orthogonal Frequency Division Modulation (OFDM):.............................................................................................17

Adaptive Antenna System (AAS)..............................................................................................................................18

Multi-Input Multi-output Systems(MIMO):.............................................................................................................19

quality of servies (QoS):............................................................................................................................................20

OFDM and Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation = Good QoS:....................................................................................21

Security:....................................................................................................................................................................21

Reliability:.................................................................................................................................................................23
WiMAX Applications:...................................................................................................................................................24

IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS):..............................................................................................................................24

Triple and Quadruple Play....................................................................................................................................24

IMS Vision:............................................................................................................................................................25

Corporate Networking..............................................................................................................................................26

Vertical Applications.................................................................................................................................................27

WiMAX 2:......................................................................................................................................................................28

Final Remark:................................................................................................................................................................29

References:...................................................................................................................................................................30
OVERVIEW:

Business is increasingly becoming a mobile activity, and as a result the wireless networks and services used
to support that development are growing in importance. In both the business-to-business and business-to-consumer
(B2B and B2C) environments, the availability of more reliable, higher-capacity wireless data networks is one of the
keys to expanding the reach of business into the mobile environment.

This transformation is occurring in the context of an overall enterprise shift toward all-IP communications. “IP,” or
Internet Protocol, describes both the format and the switching technology that drives the core of the Internet.
Originally envisioned as a general-purpose data transport, IP has now expanded to support voice and video
communications over an integrated IP backbone.

Recognizing these developments, the wireless industry is now aligning itself to take advantage of these trends. The
moniker that is used to identify that transition is 4th Generation or 4G, and it is used to describe two primary
technologies, WiMAX and Long Term Evolution (LTE). While there are some differences in the implementations,
they share a number of key characteristics:

• Higher Capacity: WiMAX and LTE will use very similar state-of-the-art radio technologies to deliver several
times the transmission capacity of existing 3G wireless services.

• Reliability: Using advanced signal encoding and smart antenna technologies, WiMAX and LTE will also deliver a
major advance in network reliability, even in the most challenging radio environments, such as densely populated
urban environments.

• All-IP Communications: Whereas in the past, wireless services were divided along voice and data lines, 4G
technologies such as WiMAX and LTE are based on the concept of an all-IP network. This means there exists a
single IP pipe that is capable of supporting voice, data and video communications.

For the end user, this transition will mean a new wireless platform that delivers a far wider range of applications
with performance and reliability that mimic the desktop experience. Now, rather than settling for a wireless
experience with performance that limits the range and utility of applications, wideband voice, high-quality video and
lightning-fast downloads will be available to users regardless of whether they are in the office or on the go.

While both WiMAX and LTE promise these capabilities, only WiMAX is available today. With a comprehensive
migration plan to evolve from our current 3G infrastructure, Because WiMAX networks are already being deployed,
users can begin taking advantage of 4G today. This research paper will talk only about WiMAX technology.
THE BASIC TECHNOLOGY OF
WIRELESS:

As shown in the Figure below, the overall structure of a mobile network involves a number of elements, all
of which contribute to the service that is provided.

• Mobile Switching Center (MSC): The MSC is the mobile central office; mobile operators typically maintain one
or more per city. With WiMAX, that facility is called a WiMAX Service Center or WSC. The MSC complex
includes other elements, including Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) servers; Access Service
Node Gateways (ASN-GWs), Media Gateways and Media Gateway Controllers (MGWs/MGCs); Home Subscriber
Servers (HSSs); and interfaces to Operations, Administration, Maintenance and Provisioning (OAM&P) systems.
The MSCs or WSCs in turn are interconnected with a signaling network to support users who are roaming in other
cities.

• Cell Towers/Base Stations (BSs): These are the visible towers that support the radio connection between the
mobile network and the users. The BS is comprised of antennas and radio transmission equipment. Different carrier
frequencies are typically assigned to each BS, and in busy cells, the coverage area can be divided into three 120°
sectors, allowing three different carrier channels to be used, effectively tripling the cell’s capacity.

• Backhaul Network: The invisible part of the network is the web of wired and wireless communication links that
connect each of the BSs to the MSC or WSC. A single 4G cell site will require tens of megabits of capacity.
Providing higher capacity 4G services has required mobile operators to invest heavily in the upgrading of their
backhaul facilities.

• Mobile Devices: The last part of the picture is the user’s mobile device. Initially that was a simple voice device,
but users are increasingly opting for smart phones. The move to 4G will allow a wider range of net books, laptops,
personal digital assistants (PDAs) and even consumer electronics devices to connect over the network.
DETERMINING RADIO NETWORK CAPACITIES:

The first major issue in a radio transmission network is determining the system’s capacity. The primary limitations
on a radio network’s capacity are defined by the amount of radio spectrum available and the efficiency with which it
can be used. Spectrum is the term used to describe the swath of radio frequencies the mobile operator is authorized
to use in a given area; spectrum capacity is measured in hertz or cycles per second. The prefixes kilo-, mega- and
giga- before hertz refer to thousands, millions and billions of cycles per second, respectively. Without going into the
engineering details, the more spectrum a mobile operator owns, the more raw transmission capacity they possess.

Data devices measure transmission capacity not in hertz but in bits per second. What determines the data
transmission capacity of a radio network is 1) how much radio spectrum the mobile operator has, and 2) the
bandwidth efficiency or the number of bits per second they can push across each cycle (i.e., bits per second per
hertz). With each successive generation of wireless technology, engineers have worked to pack in more bits onto
each cycle of radio spectrum.

CHANNEL SHARING, LATENCY AND QUALITY OF SERVICE (QOS):

Another challenge in modern radio networks is sharing capacity. In early radio networks (i.e., 1G and 2G) where
voice was the primary application, a user was assigned a dedicated channel for the duration of their call. Data
applications are characterized by bursts of transmission (e.g., downloading a Web page) followed by long periods of
inactivity (e.g., reading the Web page). To support this type of transmission efficiently, 3G and 4G wireless data
networks use packet switching techniques to share one radio channel among a number of users. While sharing
allows greater efficiency, it can also result in increased latency or delay in transporting a message as more users
begin sending on the channel. That increased latency has little effect on data applications like email and texting.
However, it can introduce problems for streaming applications such as voice and video. When latency increases,
videos can freeze and audio transmissions can be interspersed with gaps, resulting in a poor user experience.

The solution to the difficulties introduced by packet switching is to recognize the requirements of the different
traffic types and design the network to give preference to the more time-sensitive applications. The generic name for
this capability is Quality of Service (QoS). The 4G networks have incorporated protocols that can prioritize time-
sensitive voice and video packets, allowing voice and data traffic to share the same channels while still delivering
adequate performance for each.

SECURITY:

Security is the last major challenge with wireless. The 1st Generation cellular services featured weak authentication
and no over-the-air encryption. As radio transmissions are sent through free space, anyone with a radio receiver
tuned to the correct frequency can eavesdrop on the transmission.

Furthermore, unauthorized users can potentially jump on the network or hijack the credentials of legitimate users.
Since the inception of 2nd Generation networks, however, mobile operators have greatly improved network and air-
link security, and those problems have largely disappeared. With the move to 4G networks, mobile operators will be
using some of the strongest enterprise security mechanisms available today with the ability to incorporate even
stronger protections as time goes on.

Radio presents some unique challenges in terms of capacity, reliability, latency and security, but the wireless
industry has continued to develop new technologies to address those challenges. Let’s take a look at some of the
milestones that have characterized that development.
WIMAX, THE FIRST 4G
TECHNOLOGY:

WHAT IS WIMAX:

WiMAX is short for "Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access". It describes a 4G metro-area wireless
technology defined in the IEEE 802.16 standards and promoted by the WiMAX Forum. Use extensive holdings of
2.5 GHz BRS spectrum.

WiMAX has the potential to replace a number of existing telecommunications infrastructures. In a fixed wireless
configuration it can replace the telephone company’s copper wire networks, the cable TV’s coaxial cable
infrastructure while offering Internet Service Provider (ISP) services. In its mobile variant, WiMAX has the
potential to replace cellular networks.
WHY WIMAX ?

WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is designed to deliver next-generation, high-speed
mobile voice and data services and wireless “last-mile” backhaul connections that could potentially displace a great
deal of existing radio air network (RAN) infrastructure. For network providers, this will enable an expansive array
of multimedia and real-time subscriber services that go well beyond current 2.5/3G applications, including mobile
streaming media services, mobile TV, Unified Communications, and Voice over IP (VoIP), which, for the first time,
becomes practical and viable on a metro-wide scale through WiMAX. Network service providers can’t take full
advantage of mobile voice and multimedia over IP unless there is the potential to manage Quality of Service (QoS).
With this in mind, five distinct classes of service quality have been built into WiMAX, allowing a more robust and
resilient connection for users who require time-sensitive applications and service level agreements (SLAs). WiMAX
can offer a large wireless access network footprint to subscribers (similar to data-enabled cellular services such as
UMTS/CDMA), while at the same time providing higher throughputs that are similar to WLAN networks. With its
large footprint, high access speeds, built-in QoS and SLA capabilities, WiMAX is an ideal access network for next-
generation converged voice and data services and streaming wireless multimedia.

The main properties of WiMax:

 Cheap and Fast to Deploy:

 The answer to provide Underserved Areas
 Ease of deployment lowers cost
 Wide coverage
 Scalability
 Better Data Application Support

WIMAX IS NOT WI-FI:

One of the most often heard descriptions of WiMAX in the press is that it is “Wi-Fi on steroids”. In truth, it is
considerably more than that. Not only does WiMAX offer exponentially greater range and throughput than Wi-Fi
(technically speaking 802.11b, although new variants of 802.11 offer substantial improvements over the “b” variant
of 802.11), it also offers carrier grade quality of service (QoS) and security. Wi-Fi has been notorious for its lack of
security. The “b” variant of 802.11 offered no prioritization of traffic making it less than ideal for voice or video.
The limited range and throughput of Wi-Fi means that a Wi-Fi service provider must deploy multiple access points
in order to cover the same area and service the same number of customers as one WiMAX base station. WiMAX
frequency band lowers the probability of interference since transmission in the wimax frequency band is allowed
only to the license. However, this means that these licensed frequencies have to be paid for which makes WiMAX
very costly.
WIMAX STANDARDS:

WiMAX standards define a wide range of potential implementation options a mobile operator might choose. While
that can lead to some short-term confusion, it allows mobile operators great flexibility with regard to how they
deploy a WiMAX network and the services they will be able to offer.

IEEE 802.16-2001

This first issue of the standard specifies a set of MAC and PHY layer standards intended to provide fixed broadband
wireless access in a point-to-point (PTP) or point-to multipoint (PMP) topology. The PHY layer uses single carrier
modulation in the 10 – 66 GHz frequency range.

Transmission times, durations and modulations are assigned by a Base Station (BS) and shared with all nodes in the
network in the form of broadcast Uplink and Downlink maps. Subscribers need only to hear the base station that
they are connected and do not need to listen any other node of the network. Subscriber Stations (SS) has the ability
to negotiate for bandwidth allocation on a burst to-burst basis, providing scheduling flexibility.

The standard employs QPSK, 16-QAM and 64-QAM as modulation scheme. These can be changed from frame to
frame and from SS to SS, depending on the robustness of the connection. The standard supports both Time Division
Duplexing (TDD) and Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) as duplexing technique.

An important feature of 802.16-2001 is its ability to provide differential Quality of Service (QoS) in the MAC
Layer. A Service Flow ID does QoS check. Service flows are characterized by their QoS parameters, which can then
be used to specify parameters like maximum latency and tolerated jitter. Service flows can be originated either from
BS or SS. 802.16-2001 works only in (Near) Line of Sight (LOS) conditions with outdoor Customer Premises
Equipment (CPE).

IEEE 8020.16A-2003
This version of the standard amends IEEE 802.16-2001 by enhancing the medium access control layer to support
multiple physical layer specifications and providing additional physical layer specifications. This was ratified by
IEEE 802.16 working group in January 2003. This amendment added physical layer support for 2-11 GHz. Both
licensed and license-exempt bands are included. Non Line of Sight (NLOS) operation becomes possible due to
inclusion of below 11 GHz range, extending the geographical reach of the network. Due to NLOS operation
multipath propagation becomes an issue. To deal with multipath propagation and interference mitigation features
like advanced power management technique and adaptive antenna arrays were included in the specification. The
option of employing Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) was included as an alternative to single
carrier modulation. Security was improved in this version; many of privacy layer features became mandatory while
in 802.16-2001 they were optional. IEEE 802.16a also adds optional support for mesh topology in addition to PMP.

IEEE 802.16C-2002

In December 2002, IEEE Standards Board approved amendment IEEE 802.16c. In this amendment detailed system
profiles for 10-66 GHz were added and some errors and inconsistencies of the first version of the standard were
corrected.

IEEE 802.16-2004

802.16-2001, 802.16a-2003 and 802.16c-2002 were all together consolidated and a new standard was created which
is known as 802.16-2004. In the beginning, it was published as a revision of the standard under the name
802.16REVd, but the changes were so genuine that the standard was reissued under the name 802.16-2004 at
September 2004. In this version, the whole family of the standard is ratified and approved

IEEE 802.16E-2005

This amendment was included in the current applicable version of standard IEEE 802.16-2004 in December 2005.
This includes the PHY and MAC layer enhancement to enable combined fixed and mobile operation in licensed
band.
WIMAX ARCHITECTURE:

WIMAX - REFERENCE NETWORK MODEL

The IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard provides the air interface for WiMAX but does not define the full end-to-end
WiMAX network. The WiMAX Forum's Network Working Group (NWG), is responsible for developing the end-to-
end network requirements, architecture, and protocols for WiMAX, using IEEE 802.16e-2005 as the air interface.

The WiMAX NWG has developed a network reference model to serve as an architecture framework for WiMAX
deployments and to ensure interoperability among various WiMAX equipment and operators.

The network reference model envisions a unified network architecture for supporting fixed, nomadic, and mobile
deployments and is based on an IP service model. Below is simplified illustration of an IP-based WiMAX network
architecture. The overall network may be logically divided into three parts:

1. Mobile Stations (MS) used by the end user to access the network.
2. The access service network (ASN), which comprises one or more base stations and one or more ASN
gateways that form the radio access network at the edge.
3. Connectivity service network (CSN), which provides IP connectivity and all the IP core network functions.

The network reference model developed by the WiMAX Forum NWG defines a number of functional entities and
interfaces between those entities. Fig below shows some of the more important functional entities.

 Base station (BS): The BS is responsible for providing the air interface to the MS. Additional functions
that may be part of the BS are micromobility management functions, such as handoff triggering and tunnel
establishment, radio resource management, QoS policy enforcement, traffic classification, DHCP
(Dynamic Host Control Protocol) proxy, key management, session management, and multicast group
management.

 Access service network gateway (ASN-GW): The ASN gateway typically acts as a layer 2 traffic
aggregation point within an ASN. Additional functions that may be part of the ASN gateway include intra-
 ASN location management and paging, radio resource management and admission control, caching of
subscriber profiles and encryption keys, AAA client functionality, establishment and management of
mobility tunnel with base stations, QoS and policy enforcement, foreign agent functionality for mobile IP,
and routing to the selected CSN.

 Connectivity service network (CSN): The CSN provides connectivity to the Internet, ASP, other public
networks, and corporate networks. The CSN is owned by the NSP and includes AAA servers that support
authentication for the devices, users, and specific services. The CSN also provides per user policy
management of QoS and security. The CSN is also responsible for IP address management, support for
roaming between different NSPs, location management between ASNs, and mobility and roaming between
ASNs.

SUBSCRIBER STATIONS
The technical term for customer premise equipment (CPE) is subscriber station. The generally accepted marketing
terms now focus on either “indoor CPE” or “outdoor CPE”. There are advantages and disadvantages to both
deployment schemes as described below.

Outdoor CPE:

Outdoor CPE, very simply put, offers somewhat better performance over indoor CPE given that WiMAX reception
is not impeded by walls of concrete or brick, RF blocking glass or steel in the building’s walls. In many cases the
subscriber may wish to utilize an outdoor CPE in order to maximize reception via a line of sight connection to the
base station not possible with indoor CPE. Outdoor CPE will cost more than indoor CPE due to a number of factors
including extra measures necessary to make outdoor CPE weather resistant.

Indoor CPE

The most significant advantage of indoor over outdoor CPE is that it is installed by the subscriber. This frees the
service provider from the expense of “truck roll” or installation. In addition, it can be sold online or in a retail
facility thus sparing the service provider a trip to the customer site. Indoor CPE also allows a certain instant
gratification for the subscriber in that there is no wait time for installation by the service provider. Currently, many
telephone companies require a one month wait between placement of order and installation of T1 or E1 services. In
addition, an instant delivery of service is very appealing to the business subscriber in the event of a network outage
by the incumbent service provider.
WIMAX FEATURES:

ORTHOGONAL FREQUENCY DIVISION MODULATION (OFDM):

OFDM is a broadband multicarrier modulation method that offers superior performance and benefits over older,
more traditional single-carrier modulation methods because it is a better fit with today’s high-speed data
requirements and operation in the UHF and microwave spectrum.

OFDM has been adopted as the modulation method of choice for practically all the new wireless technologies being
used and developed today. It is perhaps the most spectrally efficient method discovered so far, and it mitigates the
severe problem of multipath propagation that causes massive data errors and loss of signal in the microwave and
UHF spectrum.

OFDM is based on the concept of frequency-division multiplexing (FDD), the method of transmitting multiple data
streams over a common broadband medium. That medium could be radio spectrum, coax cable, twisted pair, or
fiber-optic cable. Each data stream is modulated onto multiple adjacent carriers within the bandwidth of the
medium, and all are transmitted simultaneously. A good example of such a system is cable TV, which transmits
many parallel channels of video and audio over a single fiber-optic cable and coax cable.

The Basic idea:

» Using a large number of parallel narrow-band subcarriers instead of a single wide-band carrier to transport
information.
» at the peak of each subcarrier, all other subcarriers have amplitude zero.
» 10 MHz bandwidth => 1024 subcarriers

Advantages:
» Very easy and efficient in dealing with multi-path
» Robust again narrow-band interference
» avoids subcarrier interference

Disadvantages:
» Sensitive to frequency offset and phase noise
» Peak-to-average problem reduces the power efficiency of RF amplifier at the transmitter
ADAPTIVE ANTENNA SYSTEM (AAS)

An Adaptive Antenna System (AAS) can focus its transmit energy to the direction of a receiver. While receiving, it
can focus to the direction of the transmitting device. The technique used in AAS is known as beamforming or
beamsteering or beamshaping. It works by adjusting the width and the angle of the antenna radiation pattern (a.k.a.
the beam).

Combined with multiple antennas in the Base Station (BS), AAS can be used to serve multiple Subscriber Stations
(SSs) with higher throughput. A technique known as SDMA (Space Division Multiple Access) is employed here
where multiple SSs that are separated (in space) can transmit and receive at the same time over the same sub-
channel.
AAS also eliminates interference to and from other SSs and other sources by steering the nulls to the direction of
interferers. AAS is an optional feature in WiMAX and not included in WiMAX certification. But due to its
effectiveness in improving performance and coverage especially in Mobile WiMAX case, many vendors integrate
AAS capability into their products.

MULTI-INPUT MULTI-OUTPUT SYSTEMS(MIMO):

MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) is an antenna technology for wireless communications in which multiple
antennas are used at both the source (transmitter) and the destination (receiver). The antennas at each end of the
communications circuit are combined to minimize errors and optimize data speed. MIMO is one of several forms of
smart antenna technology, the others being MISO (multiple input, single output) and SIMO (single input, multiple
output).

In conventional wireless communications, a single antenna is used at the source, and another single antenna is used
at the destination. In some cases, this gives rise to problems with multipath effects. When an electromagnetic field
(EM field) is met with obstructions such as hills, canyons, buildings, and utility wires, the wavefronts are scattered,
and thus they take many paths to reach the destination. The late arrival of scattered portions of the signal causes
problems such as fading, cut-out (cliff effect), and intermittent reception (picket fencing). In digital communications
systems such as wireless Internet, it can cause a reduction in data speed and an increase in the number of errors. The
use of two or more antennas, along with the transmission of multiple signals (one for each antenna) at the source and
the destination, eliminates the trouble caused by multipath wave propagation, and can even take advantage of this
effect.
QUALITY OF SERVIES (QOS):

Quality of Service (QoS) is what determines if a wireless technology can successfully deliver high value services
such as voice and video. The chief detractors from good QoS are latency, jitter and packet loss. Solve these issue
and you have a carrier-grade service. Very simply put, WiMAX offers a very low latency across the wireless span.
Most vendors have products where latency is less than 10 milliseconds from base station to CPE (and vice versa).
To put this in perspective, latency must be measured end-to-end. VoIP, for example, is highly susceptible to latency.
If latency exceeds 150 milliseconds for example, the quality of the conversation begins to drag. At or above 200
milliseconds many listeners may find a conversation unintelligible.

Prioritizing Traffic

The chief solution in offering good QoS is to prioritize time sensitive traffic such as VoIP and video. Fixed WiMAX
offers 4 categories for the prioritization of traffic and mobile WiMAX has 5 categories.
OFDM AND DYNAMIC BANDWIDTH ALLOCATION = GOOD QOS:

Figure WiMAX coding and modulation schemes ensure steady signal strength over distance

by decreasing throughput over range to deliver the best QoS possible

WiMAX offers a pair of mechanisms that ensure good QoS. First, the coding and modulation schemes (64-
QAM/16-QAM/QPSK) ensure a steady signal strength over increasing distance. Secondly, Dynamic Bandwidth
Allocation (DBA) is a mechanism that monitors the network and, when interference or other detractions to signal
strength occur, the base station allocates more bandwidth and power for the afflicted stream.

SECURITY:

Anticipating the need for strong security, IEEE 802.16 working groups incorporated a substantial amount of
advanced security thinking into the WiMAX standards. Their philosophy has been to “build in” security instead of
having to “bolt on” security at a later time. The WiMAX standard includes specifications and guidelines for security
enhancements in these areas: 1) the authentication of the subscriber device, 2) higher-level (user) authentication, 3)
advanced over-the-air data encryption, and 4) options for securing control/signaling data within the core network,
which all converge on an IP-based, service orientated core backbone network. Table 1 shows some wimax threats
and their countermeasures
Security in WiMAX is set in the Privacy Sublayer in the MAC Layer. Per their respective specifications, fixed
WiMAX (802.16-2004) uses X.509 certificates for authentication and 56-bit Digital Encryption System (DES) for
encryption of the data stream. Mobile WiMAX (802.16e-2005) uses EAP for authentication and Advanced
Encryption System (AES, also used by the US government) for encryption. Both variants use Privacy Key
Management (PKM) for authentication between base station and subscriber station. While Wi-Fi may have suf-

fered a bad reputation for security given early problems in the industry, WiMAX offers strong security measures to
thwart a wide variety of security threats.
Security in WiMAX is set in the Privacy Sublayer in the MAC Layer. Per their respective specifications, fixed
WiMAX (802.16-2004) uses X.509 certificates for authentication and 56-bit Digital Encryption System (DES) for
encryption of the data stream. Mobile WiMAX (802.16e-2005) uses EAP for authentication and Advanced
Encryption System (AES, also used by the US government) for encryption. Vendors may use variants of these.
Some vendors offer 152-bit AES, which is rumored to take millions of years to crack with a consumer grade PC.
Both variants use Privacy Key Management (PKM) for authentication between base station and subscriber station.
While Wi-Fi may have suffered a bad reputation for security given early problems in the industry, WiMAX offers
strong security measures to thwart a wide variety of security threats.

RELIABILITY:

Some supporters of the telephone network say it offers 99.999% reliability or that it is down 5 minutes per year.
That may be true of the switches in the Central Office, but is not true of the telephone network as a whole. The
copper wires coming to the home or office, for example, represent a single point of failure (that is, there is no back-
up if the wire or fiber optic cable breaks or is cut). Businesses using the telephone company should ask themselves
two questions:

1. What does it cost us per hour to be down?

2. What back up, if any, do we have if the telephone line is cut or broken?

WiMAX service providers have no wires or cables that can be cut and can offer 99.999% of reliability by using
redundant radios to cover a given market. Use of licensed spectrum ensures that only one service provider is
broadcasting on a given frequency. Finally, radios with high quality chips have a mean time between failure
(MTBF) of 40 or more years. If nothing else, businesses should consider WiMAX as a cost effective disaster
recovery solution. Note: a backhoe operator cannot cut a WiMAX wireless connection to the home or office.
WIMAX APPLICATIONS:

IP MULTIMEDIA SUBSYSTEM (IMS):

One important bridge that came about with 3G was the development of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). IMS
describes an IP-based packet core that can interconnect between legacy circuits-based networks and Internet-type
packet services. The transition to 4G will result in interconnecting 3G and 4G networks for seamless roaming,
integration of wire-line and convergence services, and a consistent desktop-like user experience regardless of the
access or endpoint.

TRIPLE AND QUADRUPLE PLAY

The race is on in the service provider community to offer “triple play” (voice, video and data) or “quadruple play”
(voice, video data as well as mobile voice and data). Some service providers are attempting to do this with 3 or 4
dissimilar networks as illustrated in the figure below. For example, at the time of this writing, Qwest
Communications International sold their own voice and broadband data for the residential market, Dish Networks
for satellite TV and resells Sprint Nextel cellular service. Reselling other service providers services does not
generate the profit margins as selling one’s own services does. Given the vertical orientation of legacy systems like
cable TV (only does TV), circuit-switched voice services (like cell phone networks-designed almost entirely for
voice), it is difficult and expensive to offer more than one type of service on any one “stovepipe” network. The
solution is IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS).
IMS VISION:

The vision for IMS is that an all-IP network will allow a subscriber to access a multitude of services regardless of
how they access the network (cable TV modem, DSL, cellular, Wi-Fi, or WiMAX). Very simply put, the subscriber
will be able to access any service on any device

IMS began as a concept in the cell phone industry to offer voice, short messaging service (SMS) and video on cell
phones. It utilizes a simple three-layer architecture consisting of the Connectivity Layer (similar to the physical layer
in the OSI model), a Control Layer, which provides switching and signaling functions, and the Service Layer where
applications such as IPTV and VoIP features are offered. Running parallel to those function layers are a range of
support systems, which control security and QoS across the network. The signaling protocol known as Session
Initiation Protocol (SIP) provides signaling across the network.
CORPORATE NETWORKING

In a corporate network environment, WiMAX can play a role both in user access and data center connectivity. The
most typical application at the outset would be wireless laptop access delivering performance equivalent to a wired
DSL or cable modem connection. That means the user could access highcapacity data services along with VoIP
softphone and real-time video wherever they are located. As 4G uses mobile WiMAX technology, users could
access those services either while stationary or while traveling. Rather than simply having email and basic
applications access, WiMAX the user could do large file uploads and downloads, participate in audio or video
conferences, and make use of all of the functionality being provided by Unified Communications (UC) solutions.
WiMAX could also provide secure, high-capacity access from home without depending on the user’s home Internet
connection.

With a Wi-Fi/WiMAX router that access could also be shared by a number of users. WiMAX could provide a highly
secure, portable office capability to use at meetings, conferences or temporary offices. With the ability to use
WiMAX at customer locations, sales presentations could include video link-ups with technical experts or company
executives without the hassle of connecting to the customer’s network. With a Wi-Fi/WiMAX router, users could set
up a temporary office or disaster recovery site instantly with a “network-in-a-box.”

At the data center, WiMAX can serve as a primary or backup connection. As a primary connection, WiMAX would
allow users to install or add capacity instantly without waiting weeks for a wireline carrier to turn up a new circuit.
As a back-up connection, WiMAX will continue to operate even if all cable links to the central office have been
damaged or cut. While many associate WiMAX solely with user access, with static IP addressing capability for
firewall traversal, it can also play a role in providing reliable, high-capacity network access at the data center.
VERTICAL APPLICATIONS

Along with generic networking capability, WiMAX can also add new capabilities to a variety of vertical markets.

• Medical and Medical Telemetry:

Wireless is finding countless applications in healthcare — from bedside data entry to x-ray/ CAT scan viewing and
medical device telemetry. WiMAX can support these applications more reliably than Wi-Fi and provide coverage
both inside and outside the facility. Further, medical telemetry can be used both when the patient is in the hospital
and after he/she returns home. Hospitals can clear beds sooner, and clinicians can still keep a close watch on their
patients’ progress.

• Municipal Government:
Local government agencies have been implementing Wi-Fi mesh networks for a variety of applications ranging from
traffic and security cameras to parking meter systems, gunfire detection and first-responder communications. The
problem is that the limited range of a Wi-Fi transmission requires hundreds of access points to be deployed and
maintained, and the failure of a few of them could wipe out communications to an entire section of the city. A single
WiMAX base station can provide coverage equivalent to dozens of Wi-Fi mesh access points, and because it
operates in the licensed BRS band, it will not interfere with (or be disrupted by) home Wi-Fi networks. Finally, the
redundant hybrid microwave-fiber backhaul network can ensure reliable implementation.

• Security Monitoring:
The range and capacity of WiMAX along with its support for Static IP addressing will allow it to support video
cameras and other remote devices without the cost and complexity of installing cable connections.

• Customized Applications:
With WiMAX chip sets, it’s now possible to embed a secure, reliable, high-capacity wireless connection in any
number of different devices from handsets to laptops, mobile computers, bar code scanners and any number of other
devices for machine-to-machine (M2M) applications. WiMAX provides a transmission capacity that borders on Wi-
Fi without the range and reliability issues. Whereas Wi-Fi can provide high-speed wireless networking over a few
hundred feet, WiMAX can extend that capability to an entire city.
WIMAX 2:

WiMAX 2 is the next phase of WiMAX technology based upon the IEEE 802.16m standard, which build upon
802.16e by adding new capabilities while maintaining backward compatibility. Current and new WiMAX networks
can map a step-by-step path to 802.16m that will increase performance significantly. By 2011, even before WiMAX
2 is fully available, operators will be able to take advantage of a 10-to-20 percent increase in spectrum efficiency.
Ultimately, when 802.16m is fully available, spectrum efficiency will increase by 50 percent, leading to significant
gains in capacity and a 200 to 300 percent increase in performance. WiMAX operators can expect to see peak
throughputs beyond 300 Mbps – up to a hundred times faster than 3G – to provide exceptional performance for
bandwidth-hungry mobile data applications. In addition, the WiMAX 2 standard can process requests in a few
milliseconds, enabling reduced latency and an advanced scheduler technology for optimized prioritization of data
services.

WiMAX 2 will also provide mobile data users with significantly enhanced application performance. Handovers will
be optimized with improved reliability and reduced interruption time. Security will be heightened through enhanced
encryption capabilities and greater efficiencies in integrating key frame management. In addition, in support of the
growing importance of VoIP, WiMAX 802.16m will deliver 50 percent more VoIP capacity than 802.16e systems.
FINAL REMARK:

Doing this project has been a very enriching experience. We have spared no effort, no energy
and no time in order to get it done. We have learnt great lessons and gained valuable expertise:

We have been familiarized to the methodologies of searching and recognizing the reliable and
scientific references and resources such as white papers, application notes, etc.

Introduced into some very important concepts, techniques, and features of telecommunication
world’s as well as WiMAX’s such as Wireless Network architecture, AAS and OFDM.

Learnt how to utilize the available resources in order to result a rich and concise output report.

Learnt how to deal and overcome the obstacles and conflicts faced during the project preparing
time.

Had a clear and sold idea of our individual capabilities and learnt how to shape them in a means
that serves the project utmost goals.
REFERENCES:

E225C – Lecture 16, OFDM Introduction

Mobile WiMAX: Air Interface, G. Hiddink, Motorola Mobile Devices, Nieuwegein, March 2008

Mobile WiMAX: The 4G Revolution Has Begun., Sprint Mobile, Version 1

Performance Evaluation of WiMAX/IEEE 802.16 OFDM Physical Layer, Mohammad Azizul

Hasan

Understanding WiMAX and 3G for Portable/Mobile Broadband Wireless, Technical White

Paper, A Technical Overview and Comparison of WiMAX and 3G Technologies, December 2004

WiMAX, a Wireless Solution for Fixed Wireless Access in Emerging Markets, Application Note,
GreenPacket

WiMax.com, The WiMAX Guide, 2010 edition

WIMAX in 50 pages, A SIMPLE EXPLANATION TO A COMPLEX SUBJECT, Frank Ohrtman,

President, WMX Systems

WiMAX 2: The Streamlined Path to 4G, Technical White Paper, Motorola

http://www.intel.com/go/wimax/

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/wimax.htm

www.tutorialspoint.com

http://www.iec.org/newsletter/oct06_1/index.html