An Introduction To World-wide Inter-operability for Microwave Access (Wi MAX)

1.0 Scope: The Wi-MAX certification mark is given to product that pass conformity and interoperability test for the IEEE 802-16 standard which caters for the Air interface standard for point-to-multipoint broad-band Internet access over a wireless connection. General details of Wi-MAX: Wi-MAX is an acronym that stands for World-wide Interoperability for Microwave Access. It is an ideal method for ISP to deliver high speed broadband to locations where wired connections would be difficult or costly. Wi-MAX delivers a point-to-multipoint architecture. It doesn't require a direct line of sight between the source and endpoint and it has a service range of 50 Kms. It provides a shared data rate of up to 70 Mbps, which is enough to service up to a thousand homes with highspeed access. The main advantages of Wi-MAX are: High speed of broadband service upto 70 Mbps. Wireless rather than wired access, so that it would be a lot less expensive than cable or Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and much easier to extend to suburban and rural areas. Broad coverage like the cell phone network instead of small Wi-Fi hotspots , 50 Kms. There are following, two corresponding Wi-MAX standards: 1. IEEE 802.16-2004 is for fixed point-to-point and point-to-multipoint wireless access. It is akin to a faster, airborne version of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or cable-modem services, It is also called first Non Line of Sight (NLOS), Broad-Band Wireless access (BWA) standard. 2. IEEE 802.16e is for mobile wireless access from laptops and hand held. It is analogous to a faster version of third-generation (3G) telecommunications technology. (Wi-Max proponent Intel Corp. has promised 802.16e-enabled laptops by early 2007) True roaming cell-like wireless broadband , is IEEE standard 802.20, which is compatible with Wi-MAX. 3.0 Working of Wi-MAX: Wi-MAX operates similar to Wi-Fi but at higher speeds, over greater distances and for a greater number of users. It consists of following two parts: a) A Wi-MAX tower, similar in concept to a cell-phone tower, and which can provide coverage to a very large area as big as 3,000 square miles (~8,000 square km). b) A Wi-MAX receiver, and antenna could be like a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) card, or they could be built into a laptop similar to Wi-Fi access.

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WIFi WiMAX : Introduction to WiMAX It can provide two forms of wireless service: a) The non-line-of-sight, Wi-Fi sort of service, where a small antenna on your computer connects to the tower. In this mode, Wi-MAX uses a lower frequency range - 2 GHz to 11 GHz (similar to Wi-Fi). As lowerwavelength transmissions are not as easily disrupted by physical obstructions they provided non line of sight coverage. b) The line-of-sight service, where a fixed dish antenna points straight at the Wi-MAX tower from a rooftop or pole. The line-of-sight connection is stronger and more stable, so it is able to send a lot of data with fewer errors. Line-of-sight transmissions use higher frequencies, with ranges reaching a possible 66 GHz. At higher frequencies, there is less interference and lots more bandwidth as shown in Figure 1.

Figure -1 Wi-MAX operates on the same general principles as Wi-Fi. A typical Wi-MAX network sends data from one computer to another via radio signals. A computer (either a desktop or a laptop) equipped with Wi-MAX would receive data from the Wi-MAX transmitting station, using encrypted data keys to prevent unauthorized users from stealing access. The fastest Wi-Fi connection can transmit up to 54 megabits per second under optimal conditions. Wi-MAX should be able to handle up to 70 megabits per second. Even once those 70 megabits is split up between several dozen businesses or a few hundred home users, it will provide at least the equivalent of cable-modem transfer rates to each user. The Wi-MAX protocol is a way of networking computers together Wi-MAX does not conflict with Wi-Fi. It is designed to interoperate with Wi-Fi and may indeed complement it. This complementarity to Wi-Fi also extends to all flavors of wired Ethernet (IEEE 802.3), token ring (IEEE 802.5) and non-IEEE standards that use the same Logical Link Control (LLC) including Fiber Distribution Data Interface (FDDI) and cable modem Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS).

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WIFi WiMAX : Introduction to WiMAX

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Technical Advantage of Wi-MAX: 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. WiMAX is a wireless Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) technology that can connect IEEE 802.2 (Wi-Fi) hotspots to the Internet and provide a wireless extension to cable and DSL for last mile (last km) broadband access. IEEE 802.16 provides up to 50 kms (31 miles) of linear service area range and allows users connectivity without a direct line of sight to a base station. Note that this should not be taken to mean that users 50 kms (31 miles) away without line of sight will have connectivity. The technology also provides shared data rates up to 70 Mbps, which, according to Wi-MAX proponents, is enough bandwidth to simultaneously support more than 60 businesses with T1-type connectivity and well over a thousand homes at 1Mbps DSL-level connectivity. An important aspect of the IEEE 802.16 is that it defines a MAC layer that supports multiple Physical Layer (PHY) specifications .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 Access Points (AP's), attention on a random basis. This can cause distant nodes from the Access Point (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 over subscription (unlike 802.11). It is also much more bandwidth efficient. The scheduling algorithm also allows the base station to control Quality of Service (QoS) by balancing the assignments among the needs of the subscriber stations. The Wi-MAX outdistances Wi-Fi by miles. Wi-Fi's range is about 100 feet (30 metres). Wi-MAX will blanket a radius of 30 miles (50 kms) with wireless access. The increased range is due to the frequencies used and the power of the transmitter. Wi-MAX is both faster and has a longer range than Wi-Fi. However, Wi-MAX does not necessarily conflict with Wi-Fi but is designed to interoperate with it and may indeed complement it.

5.0 Wi-MAX (IEEE 802.16) Specifications: Range: 30 miles (50-kms) radius from base station. Speed: 70 Mbps. Line-of-sight not needed between user and base station. Frequency bands: 2 to 11 GHz and 10 to 66 GHz (licensed and unlicensed bands). Defines both the MAC and PHY layers and allows multiple PHY-layer specifications.

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WIFi WiMAX : Introduction to WiMAX 6.0 Network Scale: The smallest-scale network is a Personal Area Network (PAN). A PAN allows devices to communicate with each other over short distances. Bluetooth is the best example of a PAN. The next step up is a Local Area Network (LAN). A LAN allows devices to share information, but is limited to a fairly small central area, such as a company's headquarters, a coffee shop or your house. E.g. Wi-Fi to connect the network wirelessly. Wi-MAX is the wireless solution for the next step up in scale, the Metropolitan Area Network (MAN). A MAN allows areas the size of cities to be connected. (Figure 2)

Figure -2: The Network Scale. 7.0 Standards The current 802.16 standard is IEEE Std 802.16-2004. It renders the previous (and 1st) version 802.16-2001 obsolete, along with its amendments 802.16a and 802.16c.IEEE Std 802.16-2004 addresses only fixed systems. 802.16-2004: IEEE Standard for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks Part 16 -- Air Interface for Fixed Broadband Wireless Access Systems 802.16.2-2004: IEEE Recommended Practice for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks -- Coexistence of Fixed Broadband Wireless Access Systems. 802.16-2001 obsolete by 802.16-2004. 802.16a amendment, obsolete by 802.16-2004. 802.16c amendment, obsolete by 802.16-2004. 802.16e in progress, adds mobility to the standard. An amendment to the standards, 802.16e, and addressing mobility was concluded in 2005. This is some times called Mobile Wi-MAX, and should not be confused with 802.20, the planned standards for Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA) itself probably some years away. 8.0 The Wi-MAX Difference: Wi-MAX promises to provide high-speed wireless connectivity more simply and cost-effectively than current cellular technologies, and it offers the scalability to deliver affordable broadband access across India. Because its wireless infrastructure can be extended to provide portable and mobile device support in the future, WiMAX has additional advantages for developing economies such as that of India, that dont have widespread broadband infrastructure already in place. By leapfrogging to the latest technology, they gain not only the best broadband connectivity when in a fixed environment, but also the potential to easily add fully mobile high-speed data connectivity in the future.

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WIFi WiMAX : Introduction to WiMAX Because Wi-MAX is standards-based, it can enable economies of scale that will bring down the cost of broadband access and ensure interoperability while increasing ease of implementation. Without standards, proprietary equipment manufacturers provide the entire stack of hardware and software building blocks, and restrictive licensing can drive up costs. For the service provider, standards-based products with fewer variants and larger volume production will drive the cost of equipment down. Competition among vendors will also lower equipment costs, because service providers will be able to buy from many sources and shop for the best price. For consumers, wireless products will be differentiated by the service, not the technology, and thus the consumer will benefit from a variety of competitive and cost-effective solutions that match their communication needs. Table 1 depicts the throughput comparison between other cellular technologies and Wi-MAX. Wi-MAX delivers greater throughput and greater scalability to meet consumers needs. Table1. Comparison of cellular technologies and Wi-MAX:
Metric Technology Family and Modulation Peak Data Rate Cellular Edge TDMA GMSK and 8-PSK 473 Kbps Wi-MAX HSPDA 1xEVDO 802.16-2004 WCDMA (5 CDMA2K QPSK OFDM/OFDMA MHz) QPSK & & 16 QAM QPSK, 16 QAM & 16 QAM 64 QAM 10.8 Mbps 2.4 Mbps 75 Mbps (20 MHz channel) 18 Mbps (5 MHz channel) 13 Mbps 802.16e Scalable OFDMA QPSK, 16AM & 64 QAM 75 Mbps (Max)

Average User Throughput Range Outdoor (Avg Cell) Channel BW

T-put < 130 Kbps 210 kms 200 KHz

< 750 kbps initially 210 kms 5 MHz

< 140 Kbps

210 kms 1.25 MHz

210 kms Scalable 1.520 MHz

80% pfmc of fixed usage model 27 kms Scalable 1.520 MHz

Wi-MAX suits Indias broadband requirement because, there is no comprehensive wired communications infrastructure in place today. Wired broadband technologies like Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connectivity can reach only about 5 Kms (~ 3 miles) from the central office switches, making them an expensive and unrealistic option to reach the rural and remote areas of India. Planning and expanding the wired last-mile solution is a challenge in these areas. In new localities, it is a challenge for telecommunications operators to estimate physical wiring infrastructure needed for future growth, and maintenance and upgrading may necessitate excavating the earth to lay many Kms/miles of extra cables. Both add significant operational costs. Cable broadband service is another wired last-mile solution. Most cable broadband services in India offer just 64 Kbps of connectivity. This is not significantly faster than a dial-up connection and does little to improve the Internet user experience. There is also no consistent infrastructure quality or organization and local Internet service providers, so Internet users dont experience consistent Quality of Service.

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WIFi WiMAX : Introduction to WiMAX 9.0 Evolution of Wi-MAX: The first phase of Wi-MAX technology (based on IEEE 802.16-2004) is providing fixed wireless connections via outdoor antennae from the first half of 2005. In the second half of 2005, Wi-MAX is available for indoor installation, with smaller antennae similar to a Wi-Fi access point today. In this fixed indoor model, Wi-MAX is available for use in wide consumer residential broadband deployments, as these devices become "user installable," lowering installation costs for carriers. By 2006, the technology will be integrated into mobile computers to support roaming between Wi-MAX service areas. Figure 3 depicts the evolution of Wi-MAX.

Figure -3: Evolution of Wi-MAX. 10.0 Advantages of Wi-MAX: The broad band Internet access has biggest limitation of last mile solution and higher data rate. The presently available technologies like Wi-Fi does not provides sufficient band width coverage is very limited roaming , backhaul, interference and security are also its limitations. Wi-MAX has been evolved takes care all these limitations. The coverage area of one site is very large the coverage radius is 50Kms as compare to Wi-Fi which requires 650 access points to cover 10 Sq Km area. The bandwidth of 70 Mbps is good enough to cater hundreds of home users. Roaming and mobility is available, security features are better that Wi-Fi. The Wi-MAX standard offers a great deal of design flexibility including support for licensed and license-exempted frequency bands, channel widths ranging from 1.5 MHz to 20 MHz, per-connection Quality of Service (QoS) and strong security primitives. 802.16 is optimized to deliver high, bursty data rates to the subscriber but the sophisticated Medium Access Control (MAC) architecture can simultaneously support real-time multimedia and isochronous applications such as Voice over IP as well. This means that Wi-MAX is uniquely positioned to support applications requiring advanced QOS, such as Internet telephony & streaming video. BRBRAITT : Nov-2006 6

WIFi WiMAX : Introduction to WiMAX 11.0 Indian Scenario of Wi-MAX Role out: In India, WebSky has created a joint venture with World-Wide Wireless India (WWWI) to design, build and run a network that could address 75m people. WebSky will provide the funding and will construct the system while WWWI will contribute its licensed frequencies in 3.5GHz spectrum, which cover nine large cities, including Mumbai (Bombay), Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai (Madras), Bangalore and Hyderabad. The first build-out will occur in the city of Ludhiana, in the Punjab. Also in India, telecom giant Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has announced plans to roll out Wi-MAX and Wi-Fi services in 10 major cities, including Hyderabad, Pune, Ahemdabad and Bangalore.The installation and commissioning of Wi-Fi and Wi-MAX certified equipment of BSNL is under progress and will be rolled out shortly. It will build 400 to 500 Wi-Fi hotspots, in the first phase, at public locations such as airports, hotels, universities and hospitals, and will use Wi-MAX for backhaul and for some last mile services, complementing its existing fixed, mobile and internet services across India. On trial basis BSNL has deployed Cambridge Broadbands Vectastar Equipment in Gurgoan near Delhi. Its CPEs are multi frequency and multi sector. Vectastars technology product is used for both access and transmission with the network combining IP based access services with the backhaul of traffic from GSM, 3G, Wi-Fi and Wi-MAX base stations. French telecom major Alcatel has joined hands in an agreement with the Centre for Development of Telematics (CDoT) to set up a global research and development centre in India for broadband wireless products. The joint venture facility, to be established in Chennai, will employ 1,000 people and initially work on Wi-MAX technology. Alcatel believes that broadband wireless and particularly Wi-MAX is appropriate technology for India keeping in mind the requirements of the rural sector. Tokyo is having the first major deployment of a Wi-MAX Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) in the world . The Yozan MetroZone will deliver high speed IP connectivity with support for voice, video and broadband data services. Airspan Networks and partner Yozan has commenced trials in the second quarter of 2005 and the commercial rollout has begun from the fourth quarter of the year. The contract is valued in excess of $12 million. This is a just a sample of how big the market for WiMAX technologies can be in India. 12.0 Abbreviations:
1. LAN: 2. AP: 3. EP: 4. ISM: 5. MAC: 6. CSMA/CA: 7. DSL: 8. IEEE: 9. OSI: 10. PCMCIA: Association. 11. NLOS: 12. BWA: 13.C-DoT: 14.LLC: 15. DOCSIS: 16. PAN: 17. WWWI: Non Line of Sight . Broadband Wireless access Centre for Development of Telematics. Logical Link Control. Data over Cable Service Interface Specification. Personel Area Network. Worl-Wide Wireless India. Local Area Network. Access Point. Extension Point . Industrial Scientific & Medical Media Access Control. Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance. Digital Subscriber Line . Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers Open systems Interconnect. Personal Computer Memory Card International

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WIFi WiMAX : Introduction to WiMAX 13.0 References: 1. Article in PC Quest Magazine July 2004 issue. 2. Article in Telecommunications Nov-Dec 2005 issue. 3. Technical article at internet site: http://www.Wi-MAXforum.org. 4. Technical article at internet site: www.proxim.com.

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