The WiMAX System and Impacts to Education and Society
The WiMAX System and Impacts to Education and Society
Chad Benedict
University Of North Texas
LTEC 4550
Assignment 5
The WiMAX System and Impacts to Education and Society
What is WiMAX?
WiMAX, “Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access WiMAX,” is a wireless
communications standard created by the WiMAX forum that provides a wireless version of
Ethernet intended primarily as an alternative to wire technologies to provide broadband access to
customer premises over a wide area. The WiMAX Forum was formed in 2001 as an industry
trade organization by leading communications, component and equipment companies to promote
and certify compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless access equipment that
conforms to the IEEE 802.16 and ETSI HIPERMAN standards. The forum describes WiMAX
as "a standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as
an alternative to cable and DSL."
The WiMAX standard was originally designed to provide 30 to 40 megabit per second
data rates but now with the new 2011 update, WiMAX provides up to 1 gigabytes per second for
fixed stations. The WiMAX forum designed the WiMAX network based on 5 major principles:
Spectrum, Topology, Interworking, IP Connectivity, and Mobility Management. As a result,
WiMAX leverages different Radio Access Network topologies, provides independent RAN
architecture to enable seamless integration and interworking with WiFi, and it can be deployed in
both licensed and unlicensed spectra to support a wide spectrum. According to the WiMAX
forum, the WiMAX framework is based on the following principles:

Support for different RAN topologies.

Provide well-defined interfaces to enable 802.16 RAN architecture independence while
enabling seamless integration and interworking with WiFi, 3GPP3 and 3GPP2 networks.

Leverage and open, IETF-defined IP technologies to build scalable all-IP 802.16 access
networks using common off the shelf (COTS) equipment.
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The WiMAX System and Impacts to Education and Society

Provide support for IPv4 and IPv6 clients and application servers, recommending use of
IPv6 in the infrastructure.

Provide functional extensibility to support future migration to full mobility and delivery
of rich broadband multimedia.
WiMAX and Wi-Fi have many similarities but some major key differences. The key
differences are what separates WiMAX’s advanced capabilities to that of standard Wi-Fi. Unlike
Wi-Fi that is based on the IEEE 802.11 standard, WiMAX is based on IEEE 802.16. Wi-Fi
typically provides local network access for around a few hundred feet with speeds of up to 54
Mbps. A single WiMAX antenna provides a range of up to 40 miles with speeds of 70 Mbps or
more. As such, WiMAX can bring the underlying Internet connection needed to service local
Wi-Fi networks. Wi-Fi is intended for LAN applications, users scale from one to tens with one
subscriber for each consumer premises equipment device. WiMAX is designed to efficiently
support from one to hundreds of consumer premises equipment with unlimited subscribers. WiFi does not guarantee any quality of service but WiMAX provides several level of quality of
service. As a result, WiMAX provides two forms of wireless service. The first service is called
“Non-line-of-sight” service which is similar to WiFi in that a small antenna on a desktop
computer can connect to the WiMAX tower. In this mode, WiMAX uses a lower frequency
range -- 2 GHz to 11 GHz. The second service is called “Line-of-sight” service where a fixed
dish antenna points straight at the WiMAX tower from a rooftop or pole. The line-of-sight
connection provides a stronger and more stable connection to enable the transmission to send
more data with fewer errors. Line-of-sight transmissions use higher frequencies, with ranges
reaching a possible 66 GHz.
The WiMAX System and Impacts to Education and Society
How does it work?
The WiMAX Forum network reference model for the WiMAX provides unified network
architecture for supporting fixed, nomadic, and mobile deployments based on an IP service
model. The IP-based WiMAX network architecture may be logically divided into three parts:
Mobile Stations, Access Service Network, and a Connectivity Service Network. The Mobile
Stations are used by the end user to access the network. The Mobile Station acts as the WiMAX
receiver which may consist of a separate antenna, stand-alone receiver box, or a PCMCIA card
connected to a computer or any other type device.
The Access Service Network comprises of one or more base stations and one or more
ASN gateways that form the radio access network. A WiMAX base station consists of indoor
electronics and a WiMAX tower similar in concept to a cellphone tower. The WiMAX base
stations use the MAC layer defined in the standard, a common interface that makes the networks
interoperable and allocate uplink and downlink bandwidth to subscribers according to their needs
on a real-time transmission. The IEEE 802.16 MAC standard used by WiMAX was designed for
point-to-multipoint broadband wireless access applications. The primary task of the WiMAX
MAC layer is to provide an interface between the higher transport layers and the physical layer.
The MAC layer takes packets from the upper layer and organizes them into MAC protocol data
units for transmission over the air. For received transmissions, the MAC layer does the reverse.
The IEEE 802.16-2004 and IEEE 802.16e-2005 MAC design includes a convergence sub-layer
that can interface with a variety of higher-layer protocols, such as ATM TDM Voice, Ethernet,
IP, and any unknown future protocol. The 802.16 MAC is designed for point-to-multipoint
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The WiMAX System and Impacts to Education and Society
applications and is based on collision sense multiple access with collision avoidance. The MAC
incorporates broadcast and multicast support, manageability primitives, high-speed handover and
mobility management primitives, three power management levels, header suppression, packing
and fragmentation for efficient use of spectrum to support a broad range of applications at
different mobility rates. Within the MAC Layer, the two primary physical layer system profiles
provide the 25 MHz-wide channel for use in US deployments and the 28 MHz wide channel for
use in European deployments.
Each base station within the ASN provides wireless coverage over an area called a cell.
Theoretically, the maximum radius of a cell is 50 km or 30 miles however, practical
considerations limit it to about 10 km or 6 miles. The WiMAX base station is similar to
accessing a wireless access point in a WiFi network, but the coverage is greater. A WiMAX
tower station can connect directly to the Internet using a high-bandwidth, wired connection like a
T1 or T3 line. It can also connect to another WiMAX tower using a line-of-sight microwave link.
Backhaul refers both to the connection from the access point back to the base station and to the
connection from the base station to the core network. With WiMAX it is possible to connect
several base stations to one another using high-speed backhaul microwave links. This also allows
for roaming by a WiMAX subscriber from one base station coverage area to another, similar to
the roaming enabled by cell phones.
Finally, the Connectivity Service Network provides IP connectivity and all the IP core
network functions. The CSN is owned by the Network Service Provider and includes servers that
support authentication for the devices, users, and specific services. The CSN is also responsible
for IP address management, support for roaming between different NSPs, location management
between ASNs, and mobility and roaming between ASNs.
The WiMAX System and Impacts to Education and Society
Link to Education and Conclusion:
WiMAX provides many benefits to distance learning and education programs. First, the
WiMAX system is beneficial to distance learning and education programs because the system
facilitates high speed broadband internet service, wireless access rather than wired access, and
broad coverage like the cell phone network instead of small WiFi hotspots. WiMAX provides
learners with internet access where they may currently experience no connectivity such as
worldwide urban centers where building access is difficult, in suburban areas where the
subscriber is too far from the central office, or in rural and low population density areas where
infrastructure is poor. The wireless connectivity is also not affected by the weather conditions as
with satellite services and does not need a direct line in order to work. These capabilities enable
distance learners to access learning programs from almost any location. As a result, educational
programs can extend their reach and coverage to learners.
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The WiMAX System and Impacts to Education and Society
The WiMAX system also benefits learners and educators by providing services that are
less expensive than cable or DSL and faster connection speeds than standard IEEE 802.11 and
mobile 3G. The costs for WiMAX are less than standard broadband because WiMAX products
enable service providers to use their existing infrastructure investments to interoperate across
various network types. The WiMAX system can leverage existing infrastructure, keeping costs
down while delivering the bandwidth needed to support the current system. Mobile and fixed
WiMAX consumer premise equipment provide “plug and play” modems that can easily be
hooked up by a novice user. Technician installation, such as required by satellite television
systems, can cost hundreds of dollars, some of which may have to be assumed by the operator, or
integrated in monthly subscription fees. The use of smart antenna WiMAX receiver systems
facilitates the introduction of user-friendly WiMAX compliant laptops and devices, such as
PDAs. The result of the savings in installation costs is an increased return on investment for the
wireless operator which in turn is passed down to the consumer. In summary, the WiMAX
system benefits distance learning and education programs by increasing Internet coverage
rapidly and less expensively in unserved, underserved, and rural areas while reducing costs,
increasing transmission speeds and facilitating collaboration.
References:
WiMAX. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiMAX
WiMAX Networks. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2015, from http://www.clarendon.tv/WiMAXtechnology/summary-of-WiMAX-benefits.htm
Brain, M. (n.d.). How WiMAX Works - HowStuffWorks. Retrieved May 3, 2015, from
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/WiMAX.htm
The WiMAX System and Impacts to Education and Society
Wi-Fi vs WiMAX. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2015, from
http://www.engineersgarage.com/contribution/WiMAX-vs-wifi#
Rouse, M. (n.d.). What is WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access)? Definition from WhatIs.com. Retrieved May 3, 2015, from
http://searchtelecom.techtarget.com/definition/WiMAX
Understanding WiMAX Technology Standards. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2015, from
http://www.whatsag.com/G/Understanding_WiMAX.php
Technical Specifications. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2015, from
http://www.WiMAXforum.org/resources/technical-specifications
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