Henry Ho
CIS 410
Spring 2005
Prof. Sabet
Current Internet access
technologies
Broadband
DSL
Cable
WiFi hotspots
Dial-up
WiMAX Highlights
Speed
Faster than broadband service
Wireless
Nothaving to lay cables reduces cost
Easier to extend to suburban and rural areas
Broad coverage
Much wider coverage than WiFi hotspots
WiMAX Highlights
WiMAX
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave
Access
Is a certification mark for products that pass
conformity and interoperability tests for the
IEEE 802.16
WiMAX System Parts
WiMAX tower
Similar in concept to a cell-phone tower
Can provide coverage to a very large area -- as big
as 3,000 square miles
A WiMAX receiver
The receiver and antenna could be a small
box or PCMCIA card, or they could be built
into a laptop the way WiFi access is today
WiMAX System Parts
A tower station can connect directly to the
Internet using a high-bandwidth, wired
connection
It can also connect to another WiMAX
tower using a line-of-sight, microwave link.
Often referred to as a backhaul
Allows WiMAX to provide coverage to remote
rural areas.
Two forms of wireless service
Non-line-of-sight
A small antenna on your computer connects
to the tower
2 GHz to 11 GHz frequency range
Limited to a 4-to-6 mile radius
Two forms of wireless service
Line-of-sight service
A fixed dish antenna points straight at the
WiMAX tower from a rooftop or pole.
66 GHz frequency range
Higher frequencies, there is less interference
and lots more bandwidth
30-mile radius
Specifications
Range
30-mile radius from base station
Speed
70 megabits per second
Line-of-sight
not needed between user
and base station
In
practical terms, WiMAX would operate
similar to WiFi but at higher speeds, over
greater distances and for a greater
number of users.
WiFi hotspot replacement
Citiesmight pay to have WiMAX base
stations set up in key areas for business
and commerce and then allow people to
use them for free.
Similar to free WiFi hotspots, but wider range
Some companies might set up WiMAX
transmitters and then make people pay for
access.
Similar to paid WiFi hotspots, but wider range
DSL/cable modem replacement
Current high speed access method
The cable (or phone) company has a line that
runs into your home.
That line goes to a cable modem, and another
line runs from the modem to your computer.
If you have a home network, first it goes to a
router and then on to the other computers on
the network.
DSL/cable modem replacement
WiMAX access method
An Internet service provider sets up a WiMAX base
station.
You would buy a WiMAX-enabled computer or
upgrade your old computer to add WiMAX capability.
You would receive a special encryption code that
would give you access to the base station.
The base station would beam data from the Internet
to your computer
If you have a home network, the WiMAX base station
would send data to a WiMAX-enabled router, which
would then send the data to the different computers
on your network.
VOIP
The WiMAX protocol is designed to
accommodate several different methods
of data transmission, one of which is Voice
Over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
Dates
SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 18, 2005 - Intel
Corporation today announced the availability of
its first WiMAX product, providing equipment
manufacturers and carriers the ability to deliver
next-generation wireless broadband networks
around the world.
Several service providers worldwide announced
plans to begin commercial WiMAX trials based
on Intel silicon products later this year,