WiMAX

WiMAX supports mobile, nomadic and fixed wireless applications. A mobile user, in this context, is someone in transit, such as a commuter on a train. A nomadic user is one that connects on a portable device but does so only while stationary -- for example, connecting to an office network from a hotel room and then again from a coffee shop. Fixed wireless typically refers to wireless connectivity among non-mobile devices in homes or businesses.

According to the WiMAX forum, the group's aim is to promote and certify compatibility and interoperability of devices based on the 802.16 specification, and to develop such devices for the marketplace. WiMAX is expected to provide about 10 megabits per second of upload and download, at a distance of 10 kilometers from a base station. The Forum says that over 455 WiMAX networks have been deployed in over 135 countries.

In May of 2008, Sprint and Clearwire announced that they would be combining their WiMAX businesses. Intel, Google, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks combined to invest $3.2 billion in Clearwire. The company has begun deployment of a planned nationwide 4G network in the United States as Clear WiMax wireless broadband services. Comcast and Time Warner Cable have announced that they will resell the service in areas where they have cable coverage.

WiMAX is competing with the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)'s Long-Term Evolution (LTE) in the 4G market.

Getting started with WiMAX

To explore how WiMAX is used in the enterprise, here is an additional resource:
WiMAX tutorial: Learn more about WiMAX technology, applications and terminology. The tutorial also provides an overview of WiMAX services, performance, security and devices.
Three 4G business models emerge for LTE and WiMAX: 4G evolution talk is all the rage, but the best business models for wireless broadband technologies aren't in sharp focus yet. Wireless operators have to decide whether to deploy WiMAX or LTE for their 4G networks, and knowing their customers' habits is the key.
While LTE and WiMax hype builds, era of 3G still just beginning: As LTE and WiMax battle for 4G hype in the press, the era of 3G data connections is just now beginning, presenting carriers with a number of unanswered revenue questions.

Learn more about Wireless Carrier Networks

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More resources from around the web: - Paul DeBeasi writes more about what WiMax is and how it works at SearchMobileComputing.com. - Jeffrey G. Andrews writes about WiMax in depth in his book, "Fundamentals of WiMax." - The WiMAX Forum has more information about the organization and the 802.16 standards.

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