WiMAX, LTE, and 3G/3.5G - Review and A Comparative Study

Started by certforumz, October 21, 2011, 09:18:45 PM

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certforumz

WiMAX is an IP based, wireless broadband access technology that provides performance similar to 802.11/Wi-Fi networks with the coverage and QOS of cellular networks. WiMAX is also an acronym meaning ?Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX). The major differences between a WIMAX and cellular GPRS is in speed, where WIMAX offers higher bandwidths.

WiMAX may broadly be divided in to two categories:

i. Non-line-of-sight: Here a small antenna at the customer premises communicates with the base antenna situated at the WiMAX tower. In this mode, WiMAX uses a lower frequency range ? 2 GHz to 11 GHz (similar to Wi-Fi).

ii. Line-of-sight: Here, a fixed dish antenna points at customer premises points straight to the WiMAX tower from a rooftop or pole. The line-of-sight connection is reliable and more stable, so it?s able to transfer more data with fewer errors. Line-of-sight transmissions use higher frequencies, with ranges reaching a up to 66 Ghz.

WiMAX technology is based on IEEE 802.16 . Three versions of the IEEE 802.16 standards are given below:

1. IEEE 802.16-2004 (or 802.16d): Based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), and supports fixed and nomadic access.

2. IEEE 802.16e-2005 (or 802.16e). Based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), this standard version supports fixed and nomadic access, but it also includes additional capabilities to serve mobile access.

3. IEEE 802.16m: Currently under development, the new version of the standard will include improved mobile access and voice services and is a candidate for inclusion as one of the future ITU IMT-Advanced technologies.

The functional components of a WiMAX network consist of Base stations, Access serice network, and Mobile stations.

The typical applications supported by WiMAC include the following:


  • Broadband Internet access
  • Video streaming
  • Real time applications
  • VoIP, Video on Demand
  • Telemedicine application/Video Conference, and others.

For complete discussion on WiMAX technologies and applications, please visit the website TutorialsWeb.com http://www.tutorialsweb.com/