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Wi-Max

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax)
Danielle LeLievre, Marcos Lopez, Alex Ventura, Jorge Colon, and Ruth Martinez
University of Phoenix
NTC/360
Network and Telecommunication Concepts
Elizabeth Teffner
May 06, 2006


Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, most commonly referred to as WiMAX, "is a standards-based wireless technology that provides high-throughput broadband connections over long distances" (WiMAX, 2006, ¶ 1). The standard approved by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) references WiMAX as 802.16 (WiMAX, 2006, ¶ 1). The 802.16 standard uses a point-to-multipoint infrastructure design ("Intel and WiMAX," 2006, ¶ 15). WiMAX combines "the speed and security of a broadband connection but with the lower cost and convenience of having no wired infrastructure that's needed for cable modems or DSL connections" (Walton, 2006, ¶ 6).
WiMAX is comparable to that of Wi-Fi in the fact that it provides users with internet connection (WiMAX, 2006, ¶ 2). However, there are substantial differences between the two. Wi-Fi provides a connection speed that can handle up to 54 Mbps. WiMAX can transmit speeds up to 70 Mbps (Brain & Grabianowski, 2006, ¶ 13). The major distinction between Wi-Fi and WiMAX is the distance (Brain & Grabianowski, 2006, ¶ 14). Wi-Fi provides a user with internet connection when an access point is within proximity (Wi-Fi, 2006, ¶ 2). This coverage is usually only within a small geographical area (Brain & Grabianowski, 2006, ¶ 2). WiMAX, on the other hand, provides a range of greater distances (WiMAX, 2006, ¶ 2). This includes metropolitan area networks (MANs) and rural areas ("Intel and WiMAX," 2006, ¶ 1). Figure 1.1 provides the maximum distance for the technology available today (Brain & Grabianowski, 2006). WiMAX "can provide both campus-level network connectivity and a wireless last-mile approach that can bring high-speed networking and Internet service directly to customers"...