1st Edition

WiMAX Taking Wireless to the MAX

By Deepak Pareek Copyright 2006
    384 Pages 123 B/W Illustrations
    by Auerbach Publications

    With market value expected to reach $5 billion by 2007 and the endorsement of some of the biggest names in telecommunications, World Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) is poised to change the broadband wireless landscape. But how much of WiMAX's touted potential is merely hype? Now that several pre-WiMAX networks have been deployed, what are the operators saying about QoS and ROI? How and when will device manufacturers integrate WiMAX into their products? What is the business case for using WiMAX rather than any number of other established wireless alternatives?

    WiMAX: Taking Wireless to the MAX examines the evolution of wireless, broadband, and the wireless broadband landscape with exhaustive coverage of technological advances and evolving topologies. It sets the tone for the journey towards untouched wireless heights - WiMAX. The author builds a complete understanding of Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) Technologies, elaborating on past developments, present needs and uses, and future trends and markets. He lays out a road map to the future and articulates present and future applications and models of BWA with focus on WiMAX. The book also provides a detailed discussion on the advanced technologies central to the existence of WiMAX. It presents strategies for building the case for WiMAX and achieving success for the different players, including service providers and equipment manufacturers.

    An increasing demand for access to information anytime, anywhere has led to explosive growth in access and wireless technologies. The trend has created new competitive threats as well as new opportunities in every walk of life. The task, then, is to turn possibilities into realities and provide solutions that enable anywhere, anytime access to information and applications at low cost and with a small investment. Taking a coherent and fact-based approach, this book explores the space between what is known and available and what industry needs.

    INTRODUCTION
    Give Me More: The Need for Broadband
    Going Wireless: Enabling the Revolution
    Broadband Goes Wireless
    Understanding Wireless Networks
    Defining Standards
    Wireless Network Types
    Key Wireless Technologies
    Dynamics of Wireless Technologies
    Opportunity for Wireless Technologies
    Always Best-Connected
    The Goal
    Challenges
    Key to Success: WiMAX

    SETTING THE STAGE
    The Knowledge Economy
    The Need for Connectivity
    Communication: Evolving with Mankind
    The Global Brain
    The Digital Divide: What Does it Signify?
    Digital Market: Impact of E-Commerce
    Digital Government: Assessing E-Government
    The Economic Impact of Telecommunication

    TELECOMMUNICATION: A CONNECTING MECHANISM
    Telecommunication: Continuously Evolving
    Trends in Transmission Coding Technology
    A New Era of Telecommunication
    The Network Is Born
    Comparing the Telecom and Data Network Models

    THE INTERNET TAKES OFF
    The Birth of the Commercial Internet
    Related Networks
    Internet Evolution
    The Technology behind the Internet
    Backhaul Technologies
    Distribution Technologies
    Unprecedented Internet Growth
    The Impact of the Internet

    THE BROADER THE BETTER
    The Need for Broadband
    Why Broadband?
    Broadband Applications
    Broadband Technologies
    Broadband Drivers and Pitfalls

    WIRED VERSUS WIRELESS
    Wireline Will Bleed but Won't Die
    Why Go Wireless?7
    The WLL Revolution
    Wireless Data Access
    Connectivity without Strings
    Wireless Internet: Boom Time
    Flavors of Wireless Internet
    Wireless Network Technology
    Drivers for Wireless Networks
    Issues for Wireless Networks

    BROADBAND UNWIRED
    The Last Mile Shall Be the First
    What Is Access?
    Communications Revolution: Broadband Wireless Access (BWA)
    BWA Technologies
    Trends and Directions
    Successes and Failures
    WiMAX without Wires
    Making Broadband Personal
    One for Everyone
    The Way Ahead
    3G and Beyond

    UNDERSTANDING THE TECHNOLOGY
    How WiMAX Works
    Designed to Succeed
    Flavors of WiMAX
    Types of WiMAX
    Evolution of WiMAX
    The Cutting Edge
    IEEE 802.16 Standards
    Overview
    Family of IEEE 802.16 Standards
    Importance of Standards
    Technology Description
    Base Stations
    CPE or Subscriber System
    RF Signals
    Deployment Stages
    Network Topology
    Spectrum Issues
    Spectrum Management
    Spectral Impact: WiMAX
    Licensed versus License Exempt

    SURVEYING THE LANDSCAPE
    A Common Solution for Multiple Problems
    The USP
    Universal Acceptance: The Challenge
    Economics of WiMAX
    WiMAX Cost Structure
    Capital Expenses (CAPEXs)
    WiMAX Benefits
    The Importance of Scalability and Flexibility
    Coexistence
    Convergence: The Future of Communication
    WiMAX and Multiple Service Levels
    Marketplace Positioning
    Market Analysis
    Market Segmentation and Scope
    WiMAX Applications
    Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)
    High-Speed Internet Access or Wireless DSL
    Backhaul
    Clustered Wi-Fi Hot Spots
    The Last Mile: Bringing Broadband to Underserved Areas
    Other Applications
    Are We Ready?
    High Expectations
    Deployment Process
    WiMAX: Initial Phase

    IDENTIFYING THE MARKET
    Boom Period: Wireless Networks
    WiMAX: Wi-Fi on Steroids
    The Present Scenario
    WiMAX Players
    WiMAX Forum and Wi-Fi Alliance
    The Role of the WiMAX Forum
    Conformance versus Interoperability
    The WiMAX Certification Process
    Market Drivers
    Market Challenges
    Government Regulations
    Incumbent Telecoms
    Licenses
    The Spectrum Picture
    3.5 GHz Band
    5 GHz U-NII and WRC Bands
    Multi-channel Multi-point Distribution Service
    Future Spectrum for BWA/WiMAX
    Block Sizes
    FDD and TDD Status

    PREDICTING THE FUTURE
    The Historical Pattern
    Lessons from History
    Broadband Wireless Access (BWA): The Next Big Thing
    The Failure of Generation One
    BWA: The Present
    Taking Broadband to the Masses
    Professional Users: Needing Mobile Broadband More than Ever
    Public and Residential Users: Getting More Done at Home
    WiMAX: The New Kid on the Block
    Radio Technology: Push in the Right Direction
    WiMAX Poised for Take-Off (or Maybe Not)
    Is WiMAX Secure?
    Positive Spectrum Environment
    Forecasts and Global Trends

    ANALYZING THE MODEL
    WiMAX: Scores Higher
    SWOT Analysis
    Where WiMAX Fits in
    Business Case

    PLANNING THE STRATEGY
    Management Summary
    Strategy Development: An Art, Not a Science
    To WiMAX or Not to WiMAX
    The Players
    Service Providers
    Equipment Vendors
    Regulators
    Investors
    Mobility: The Catch-22
    Getting the Best out of WiMAX
    Recommendations

    CONCLUSION
    The World Wants Access
    Broadband Access to Buildings
    Broadband Wireless Access (BWA)
    WiMAX
    Properties of IEEE Standard 802.16
    Third-Generation Technology in 802.16
    WiMAX Forum Purpose

    Biography

    Deepak Pareek