Report

On

WiMAX
(Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access)

Submitted to:-
University Institute of Engineering and Technology
PANJAB UNIVERSITY
CHANDIGARH

Submitted by
by:
EKJOT SINGH ARORA
02TEL017
Telecom. & I.T. (7th
semester)
Dept. of U.I.E.T. (P.U.)
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am extremely grateful and remain indebted to Miss RUPALI GARG, lecturer for being
a source of inspiration and for her constant support in materializing this report. I am
thankful to her for her constructive invaluable suggestions, which benefited me a lot
while developing this report on the “WiMAX”. Through this column, it would be my
utmost pleasure to express my warm thanks to her for her encouragement, cooperation
and consent without which I might not have been able to accomplish this report.

EKJOT SINGH ARORA

 CONTENTS
1. Introduction
1.1What Is Wi-Fi?

1.2Wireless Spectrums

2. What is WiMAX?

2.1 IEEE 802.16 STANDARD

2.2 SPECTRUM

3. WiMAX Features
3.1 The Problems WiMAX Solves

4. RANGE OF SERVICES BY WiMax

4.1 WiMax’s RANGE OF APPLICATIONS

4.2 WiMAX Application
4.3 Uses for WiMAX

5. Technical advantages over WiFi

5.1 Wifi vs. Wimax

5.2 COMPARISION OF WiMax WITH OTHER TECHNOLOGIES

6. WiMAX as a Metro-Access Deployment Option

7. WiMAX Market Overview

7.1 Key WiMAX Players

8. PROSPECTS FOR WiMax

9. Conclusion

10. Key Terminology

# Sources for WiMAX information

1. Introduction
Have you ever wanted to lounge on a beach chair at a fancy resort and surf the Internet?
Connect and get your email in a coffee shop such as Starbucks, or one inside a Borders
bookstore? Put together some computers in your home so that they can share files or
access to the Internet without drilling holes or snaking snarled wires from one computer
to another?
That’s the world of WIRELESS…..
It has transformed our world into one free from wire mesh. It’s a revolution which has
transformed the myth of wireless world into a reality. No longer are we dependent on
pieces of wires for getting connected to outside world. Now you can get high speed data
connection where ever and whenever you want it to be just on a click of a button. That’s
what’s called WiFi……. And to take it a step further there is WiMax.

1.1What Is Wi-Fi?
The very short version is that Wi-Fi is a way for wireless devices to communicate.
Wi-Fi, short for wireless fidelity, is the Wi-Fi Alliance's name for a wireless standard, or
protocol, used for wireless communication. Standards and protocols are mostly of interest
to engineers
WiFi has garnered a huge amount of attention from people who would normally be
unconcerned about engineering details: in other words, normal human beings like you
and me. Students, professionals, homemakers, English Lit majors, and office workers are
all talking about WiFi.
Wi-Fi devices are certified interoperable and run on some flavor of 802.11, a medium-
range wireless networking standard. 802.11 runs at speeds roughly comparable to those
of wired networks.

1.2Wireless Spectrums
Unlike many other wireless standards, 802.11 runs on "free" portions of the radio
spectrum. This means that (unlike cell telephone communications) no license is required
to broadcast or communicate using 802.11 (or Wi-Fi).

The free portions of the radio spectrum used by 802.11 (and Wi-Fi) are the 2.4GHz band,
and, more recently, the 5GHz band. As you may know, many household appliances such
as microwave ovens and (most significantly) wireless telephone handsets also use these
free spectrums.
With a wireless telephone handset, a base station is connected to the telephone line, and
the handset communicates with the base station over the "free" radio frequency, so that
you can roam about your home or office while talking on the phone. Clearly, these
wireless telephone handsets are not the same thing as cell phones, which do not connect
to a telephone wire at all and use licensed portions of the spectrum.

The 802.11 (and WiFi) standard includes what is called a physical layer. This physical
layer uses something known as Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum technology (DSSS) to
prevent collisions and avoid interference between devices operating on the same
spectrum. You'll find much the same kind of technology in your wireless telephone
handset. The idea here is that you don't want the signal coming out of your microwave
unit to interfere with your email (or vice versa).

In addition to its physical layer, each 802.11 WiFi device has an access control layer. The
access control layer specifies how a WiFi device, such as a mobile computer,
communicates with another WiFi device, such as a wireless access point.

But if this is WiFi then what is WiMax!!!

2. What is WiMAX?
WiMAX is an acronym that stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave
Access, a certification mark for products that pass conformity and interoperability tests
for the IEEE 802.16 standards.
Products that pass the conformity tests for WiMAX are capable of forming wireless
connections between them to permit the carrying of internet packet data. It is similar to
WiFi in concept, but has certain improvements that are aimed at improving performance
and should permit usage over much greater distances.
IEEE 802.16 is working group number 16 of IEEE 802, specializing in point-to-
multipoint broadband wireless access
2.1 IEEE 802.16 STANDARD
2.2 SPECTRUM
802.11 Spectrum
 UNII

ISM ISM

1 2 3 4 5
GHz

ISM: Industrial, Scientific & Medical Band – Unlicensed band

UNII: Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure band – Unlicensed band

802.11/802.16 Spectrum

International International
US ISM
Licensed ISM Japan
Licensed Licensed
Licensed

1 2 3 4 5
GHz

802.16a has both licensed and license-exempt options

ISM: Industrial, Scientific & Medical Band – Unlicensed band

UNII: Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure band – Unlicensed band

3. WiMAX Features

 Long range , high data rate

  Less susceptible to interference

 Very viable mobile alternative to DSL and cable

 Wireless broadband data delivery at home

 Plug and play installation

3.1 The Problems WiMAX Solves

WiMAX is all about delivering broadband wireless access to the masses. It represents an
inexpensive alternative to digital subscriber lines (DSL) and cable broadband access. The
installation costs for a wireless infrastructure based on 802.16 is far less than today's wired
solutions, which often require laying cables and ripping up buildings and streets. For this
reason, WiMAX makes an attractive solution for providing the last mile connection in
wireless metropolitan area networks.
In parts of the world lacking a well-developed wired infrastructure, 802.16 offers a
practical way to extend service to many different parts of a country, such as China or India.
WiMAX could bring broadband access into the homes and businesses of millions of people
in rural and developing markets.
WiMAX can also solve the problem of how to keep wireless notebooks and other mobile
devices connected between 802.11 hotspots. An 802.16e amendment will add mobility to
802.16. As early as 2006, 802.16 could be incorporated into end-user devices like
notebooks and PDAs, enabling the delivery of wireless broadband directly to the end-user
on the move.WiMAX is not a new technology. It is a more innovative and commercially
viable adaptation of a technology already used to deliver broadband wireless services in
proprietary installations around the globe. Wireless broadband access systems are already
deployed in more than 125 countries. What differentiates 802.16 from earlier broadband
wireless access (BWA) iterations is standardization. In these earlier solutions, the
chipsets were custom-built for each broadband wireless access vendor, requiring a great
deal of time and cost. Intel, Fujitsu and others would like to bring economies of scale to
broadband wireless-cost savings that would go a long way toward creating a larger
market.

4. RANGE OF SERVICES BY WiMax

4.1 WiMax’s RANGE OF APPLICATIONS
4.2 WiMAX Applications
 Fixed last-mile broadband access as a replacement or substitute for
wired DSL, cable, or T1 connections
  Hotspot subscriber and Backhaul provider connections supported

 High-speed enterprise connectivity for business

4.3 Uses for WiMAX

WiMAX is a wireless metropolitan area network (MAN) technology that can connect IEEE 802.11(Wi-
Fi) hotspots with each other and to other parts of the Internet and provide a wireless alternative to cable
and DSL for last mile (last km) broadband access. IEEE 802.16 provides up to 50 km (31 miles) of
linear service area range and allows connectivity between users without a direct line of sight. Note that
this should not be taken to mean that users 50 km (31 miles) away without line of sight will have
connectivity. The technology also provides shared data rates up to 70 Mbit/s, which, according to
WiMAX proponents, is enough bandwidth to simultaneously support more than 60 businesses with T1-
type connectivity and well over a thousand homes at 1Mbit/s DSL-level connectivity.
It is also anticipated that WiMAX will allow interpenetration for broadband service provision of VoIP,
video, and Internet access—simultaneously. Most cable and traditional telephone companies are closely
examining or actively trial-testing the potential of WiMAX for "last mile" connectivity. This should
result in better pricepoints for both home and business customers as competition results from the
elimination of the "captive" customer bases both telephone and cable networks traditionally enjoyed.
Even in areas without preexisting physical cable or telephone networks, WiMAX could allow access
between anyone within range of each other; home units the size of a paperback book that provide both
phone and network connection points are already available and easy to install.
There is also interesting potential for interoperability of WiMAX with legacy cellular networks.
WiMAX antennas can "share" a cell tower without compromising the function of cellular arrays already
in place. Companies that already lease cell sites in widespread service areas have a unique opportunity
to diversify, and often already have the necessary spectrum available to them (i.e. they own the licenses
for radio frequencies important to increased speed and/or range of a WiMAX connection). WiMAX
antennae may be even connected to an Internet backbone via either a light fiber optics cable or a
directional microwave link. Some cellular companies are evaluating WiMax as a means of increasing
bandwidth for a variety of data-intensive applications. In line with these possible applications is the
technology's ability to serve as a very high bandwidth "backhaul" for Internet or cellular phone traffic
from remote areas back to a backbone. Although the cost-effectiveness of WiMAX in a remote
application will be higher, it is definitely not limited to such applications, and may in fact be an answer
to expensive urban deployments of T1 backhauls as well. Given developing countries' (such as in
Africa) limited wired infrastructure, the costs to install a WiMax station in conjunction with an existing
cellular tower or even as a solitary hub will be diminutive in comparison to developing a wired solution.
The wide, flat expanses and low population density of such an area lends itself well to WiMAX and its
current diametrical range of 30 miles. For countries that have skipped wired infrastructure as a result of
inhibitive costs and unsympathetic geography, WiMAX can enhance wireless infrastructure in an
inexpensive, decentralized, deployment-friendly and effective manner.
Another application under consideration is gaming. Sony and Microsoft are closely considering the
addition of WiMax as a feature in their next generation game console. This will allow gamers to create
ad hoc networks with other players. This may prove to be one of the "killer apps" driving WiMax
adoption: WiFi-like functionality with vastly improved range and greatly reduced network latency and
the capability to create ad hoc mesh networks.

5. Technical advantages over WiFi

Because IEEE 802.16 networks use the same Logical Link Controller (standardized by
IEEE 802.2) as other LANs and WANs, it can be both bridged and routed to them.
An important aspect of the IEEE 802.16 is that it defines a MAC layer that supports
multiple physical layer (PHY) specifications. This is crucial to allow equipment makers
to differentiate their offerings. This is also an important aspect of why WiMAX can be
described as a "framework for the evolution of wireless broadband" rather than a static
implementation of wireless technologies. Enhancements to current and new technologies
and potentially new basic technologies incorporated into the PHY (physical layer) can be
used. A converging trend is the use of multi-mode and multi-radio SoCs and system
designs that are harmonized through the use of common MAC, system management,
roaming, IMS and other levels of the system. WiMAX may be described as a bold
attempt at forging many technologies to serve many needs across many spectrums.
The MAC is significantly different from that of Wi-Fi (and ethernet from which Wi-Fi is
derived). In Wi-Fi, the ethernet uses contention access—all subscriber stations wishing to
pass data through an access point are competing for the AP's attention on a random basis.
This can cause distant nodes from the AP to be repeatedly interrupted by less sensitive,
closer nodes, greatly reducing their throughput. By contrast, the 802.16 MAC is a
scheduling MAC where the subscriber station only has to compete once (for initial entry
into the network). After that it is allocated a time slot by the base station. The time slot
can enlarge and constrict, but it remains assigned to the subscriber station meaning that
other subscribers are not supposed to use it but take their turn. This scheduling algorithm
is stable under overload and oversubscription (unlike 802.11). It is also much more
bandwidth efficient. The scheduling algorithm also allows the base station to control
Quality of Service by balancing the assignments among the needs of the subscriber
stations.
A recent addition to the WiMAX standard is underway which will add full mesh
networking capability by enabling WiMAX nodes to simultaneously operate in
"subscriber station" and "base station" mode. This will blur that initial distinction and
allow for widespread adoption of WiMax based mesh networks and promises widespread
WiMAX adoption.
The original WiMAX standard, IEEE 802.16, specifies WiMAX in the 10 to 66 GHz
range. 802.16a added support for the 2 to 11 GHz range, of which most parts are already
unlicensed internationally and only very few still require domestic licenses. Most
business interest will probably be in the 802.16a standard, as opposed to licensed
frequencies. The WiMAX specification improves upon many of the limitations of the Wi-
Fi standard by providing increased bandwidth and stronger encryption. It also aims to
provide connectivity between network endpoints without direct line of sight in some
circumstances. The details of performance under near-line of sight (NLOS)
circumstances are unclear as they have yet to be demonstrated. It is commonly considered
that spectrum under 5-6 GHz is needed to provide reasonable NLOS performance and
cost effectiveness for PtM (point to multi-point) deployments. WiMAX makes clever use
of multi-path signals but does not defy the laws of physics.

5.1 Wifi vs. Wimax

5.2 COMPARISION OF WiMax WITH OTHER
TECHNOLOGIES
6. WiMAX as a Metro-Access Deployment Option
WiMAX is a worldwide certification addressing interoperability across IEEE 802.16
standards-based products. The IEEE 802.16 standard with specific revisions addresses
two usage models:

• Fixed

• Portable

Fixed
The IEEE 802.16-2004 standard (which revises and replaces IEEE 802.16a and
802.16REVd versions) is designed for fixed-access usage models. This standard may be
referred to as “fixed wireless” because it uses a mounted antenna at the subscriber’s site.
The antenna is mounted to a roof or mast, similar to a satellite television dish. IEEE
802.16-2004 also addresses indoor installations, in which case it may not be as
robust as in outdoor installations.
The 802.16-2004 standard is a wireless solution for fixed broadband Internet access that
provides an interoperable,
carrier-class solution for the last mile. The Intel WiMAX solution for fixed access
operates in the licensed 2.5-GHz, 3.5-GHz and license-exempt 5.8-GHz bands. This
technology provides a wireless alternative to the cable modem, digital subscriber lines of
any type (xDSL), transmit/exchange (Tx/Ex) circuits and optical carrier level (OC-x)
circuits.

Portable
The IEEE 802.16e standard is an amendment to the 802.16-2004 base specification and
targets the mobile market by adding portability and the ability for mobile clients with
IEEE 802.16e adapters to connect directly to the WiMAX network
to the standard. The 802.16e standard is expected to be ratified in early 2005. The
802.16e standard uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA),
which is similar to OFDM in that it divides the carriers into multiple subcarriers.
OFDMA, however, goes a step further by then grouping multiple subcarriers into sub-
channels. A single client or subscriber station might transmit using all of the sub-channels
within the carrier space, or multiple clients might transmit with each using a portion of
the total number of sub-channels simultaneously. The IEEE 802.16-2004 standard
improves last-mile delivery in several key aspects:
• Multi-path interference
• Delay spread
• Robustness
Multi-path interference and delay spread improve performance in situations where there
is not a direct line-of-sight path
between the base station and the subscriber station. The emerging 802.16-2004 media-
access control (MAC) is optimized for long-distance links because it is designed to
tolerate longer delays and delay variations. The 802.16 specification accommodates
MAC management messages that allow the base station to query the subscriber station,
but there is a certain amount of time delay.WiMAX equipment operating in license-
exempt frequency bands will use time-division duplexing (TDD); equipment operating in
licensed frequency bands will use either TDD or frequency-division duplexing (FDD).
Intel WiMAX products will support TDD and half-duplex FDD operation.The IEEE
802.16-2004 standard uses OFDM for optimization of wireless data services. Systems
based on the emerging IEEE 802.16-2004 standards are the only standardized OFDM-
based, wireless metropolitan area networks (WMAN) platforms. In the case of 802.16-
2004, the OFDM signal is divided into 256 carriers instead of 64 as with the 802.11
standard. As previously stated, the larger number of subcarriers over the same band
results in narrower subcarriers, which is equivalent to larger symbol periods. The same
percentage of guard time or cyclic prefix (CP) provides larger absolute values in time for
larger delay spread and multi-path immunity. The 802.11 standard provides one-fourth of
the OFDM options for CP than does the 802.16-2004 standard, which provides 1 /32, 1 /
16, 1 /8 and 1 /4, where each can be optimally set. For a 20-MHz bandwidth, the
difference between a CP in .11 and 16 would be a factor of four because of the ratio
256 /64. In OFDMA with 2048 FFT size, the ratio is 32.

7. WiMAX Market Overview

 Market Momentum spurred by Intel’s backing and large companies on the

WiMAX forum
  Major Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) Vendors committed to implementing
802.16-2004 and 802.16e in their product roadmaps

 Major Base station vendors have also joined the WiMAX forum

 Large telecommunications carriers, worldwide assessing WiMAX technology for

trials and implementation in the markets they serve

 WiMAX will face competition from DSL, cable modems and traditional T1 lines
on the fixed access side in later implementations and 802.20 on the wireless
mobility side

7.1 Key WiMAX Players

Equipment Providers:

 Airspan,
 Alcatel,
  Alvarion,
 Aperto,
 Axxcelera,
 Ericsson,
 Huwei,
 Intel,
 Lucent,
 Motorola,
 Navini,
 Promix,
 Redline,
 Samsung,
 Siemens,
 ZTE
 Many others…

8. PROSPECTS FOR WiMax

WiMAX Subscribers
 Huge growth potential for wireless Internet users

WiMAX Penetration Rate

Huge growth potential for Wimax Subscribers

9. Conclusion

The latest developments in the IEEE 802.16 group are driving a broadband wireless
access revolution thanks to a standard with unique technical characteristics. In parallel,
the WiMAX forum, backed by industry leaders, helps the widespread adoption of
broadband wireless access by establishing a brand for the technology.
Initially, WiMAX will bridge the digital divide and thanks to competitive equipment
prices, the scope of WiMAX deployment will broaden to cover markets where the low
POTS penetration, high DSL unbundling costs, or poor copper quality have acted as a
brake on extensive high-speed Internet and voice over broadband.
WiMAX will reach its peak by making Portable Internet a reality. When WiMAX
chipsets are integrated into laptops and other portable devices, it will provide high-speed
data services on the move, extending today's
Limited coverage of public WLAN to metropolitan areas. Integrated into new generation
networks with seamless roaming between various accesses, it will enable end-users to
enjoy an "Always Best Connected" experience.
The combination of these capabilities makes WiMAX attractive for a wide diversity of
people: fixed operators, mobile operators and wireless ISPs, but also for many vertical
markets and local authorities.

10. Key Terminology

 3GPP – Third Generation Partnership Project

 AP – Access point. An AP operates within a specific frequency spectrum and uses an 802.11 standard specified
 Modulation technique. It informs the wireless clients of its availability, authenticates and associates wireless clients to the
wireless network and coordinates the wireless clients’ use of wired resources.

 BS – Base station
 CSMA/CA – Carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance
 CSMA/CD – Carrier sense multiple access with collision detection
 DOCSIS – Data over Cable Service Interface Specification
 DSL – Digital subscriber line
 DSSS – Direct sequence spread spectrum
 ETSI – European Telecommunications Standards Institute
 FCC – Federal Communications Commission
 IEEE – Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
 IP – Internet Protocol
 LAN – Local area network
 MAC address – Media access control address. This address is a computer’s unique hardware number.
 MAN – Metropolitan area network
 OFDM – Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
 OFDMA – Orthogonal frequency division-multiple access
 P2P – Point-to-point
 P2MP – Point-to-multi-point
 PAN – Personal area network
 PHY – Physical layer
 PoP – Point of presence
 QoS – Quality of service
 RF – Radio frequency
 SS – Subscriber station
 UWB – Ultra-wide band
 VoIP – Voice over Internet Protocol
 WAN – Wide area network
 Wi-Fi – Wireless fidelity. Used generically when referring to any type of 802.11 network, whether 802.11b, 802.11a, dual-
band, and so on.

 WiMAX – Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access

 WISP – Wireless Internet service provider
 WLAN – Wireless local area network
 WMAN – Wireless metropolitan area network
 WWAN – Wireless wide area networks

Sources for WiMAX information

 http://www.wimaxforum.org/

 http://www.intel.com/netcomms/ technologies /wimax/

 http://www.wimaxtrends.com/

 http://www.wimaxxed.com/