IT-3303-3

Broadband Networks
Punjab University College of Information Technology,
University of the Punjab.

Wireless MAN (IEEE 802.16) cont.

Lecture - Objectives
WiMAX (IEEE 802.16)
IEEE 802.16 Standards
Wi-Fi vs. WiMAX

WiMAX
WiMAX
(Worldwide
Interoperability
for
Microwave Access) is a standards-based
technology enabling the delivery of last mile
wireless broadband access as an alternative to
cable and DSL.
The technology is specified by the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., as the
IEEE 802.16 standard.

WiMAX Standards
The 802.16a standard is a wireless metropolitan
area network (MAN) technology that will provide
a wireless alternative to cable, DSL and T1/E1
for last mile broadband access. It will also be
used as complimentary technology to connect
802.11 hot spots to the Internet.
IEEE Std 802.16-2004, approved 2004,
addresses only fixed systems. An amendment
802.16e is in the works which adds mobility
components to the standard.

WiMAX Standards
IEEE 802.16-2005, approved December, 2005
(named as 802.16e or Mobile WiMAX). The
WiMAX mobility standard is an improvement on
the modulation schemes stipulated in the
original (fixed) WiMAX standard. It allows for
fixed wireless and mobile Non Line of Sight
(NLOS) applications primarily by enhancing the
OFDMA
(Orthogonal
Frequency
Division
Multiple Access).

WiMAX Standards

802.16/c

802.16a/REVd/2004

802.16e

Spectrum

11-66 GHz

2-11 GHz

2-6 GHz

Channel
Conditions

LOS

LOS, NLOS

NLOS

BitRate

32-124 Mbps

1-70 Mbps

Up to 50 Mbps

Modulation

QPSK, 16QAM
and 64QAM

OFDM 256 sub-carriers,

QPSK, 16QAM and 64QAM

SOFDMA

Mobility

Fixed

Fixed, Portable

Mobile (upto
120Km/h)

Channel
Bandwidths

20, 25 and 28
MHz

Selectable channel
bandwidths between 1.5 and
20 MHz

Selectable
channel
bandwidths
between 1.25
and 20 MHz

TypicalCell
Radius

1-3 miles

3-5 miles
Maximum range 30 miles
based on the tower height

1-3 miles

Wi-Fi Standards
Standard

Throughput

Range

Frequency

802.11a

Up to 54 Mbps

Up to 300 ft

Between 5 and
6 Ghz

802.11b

Up to 11 Mbps

Up to 300 ft

2.4 Ghz

802.11g

Up to 54 Mbps

Up to 300 ft

2.4 Ghz

Wi-Fi Vs WiMax
802.11
Scalability

Wide (20MHz) frequency

channels
MAC designed to support
10s of users

802.16a/e
Channel bandwidths can be
chosen by
operator 1.5
MHz to 20 MHz width
channels.
MAC designed to support
thousands of users.

Channel
Bandwidth

20 MHz

1.5 20 MHz

Maximum
Data Rate
Maximum
bps/Hz

54 Mbps

100 Mbps

2.7 bps/Hz

5.0 bps/Hz

Wi-Fi Vs WiMax
802.11
Range

Coverage
Security

Quality
Service

Optimized
meters

for

802.16a
~100

Optimized for up to 50 Km

Designed to handle many

No
near-far users
spread
out
over
compensation
kilometers
Optimized for indoor
performance
802.11i standard is in
progress that will provide
security
MAC
of Contention-based
(CSMA/CA)
=>
no
guaranteed QoS

Optimized for outdoor NLOS

performance
Standard by default support
security
Grant-request MAC
Designed to support Voice
and Video from ground up

P2MPArchitecture

Reference Material

Wireless Communications and Networks (Ch 11)

by William Stallings
WiMAX Forum