Nextgen Wireless Technology = WiMAX!

WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) the new wireless technology promises to take the internet truly wireless. Beyond WiFi. WiMAX will facilitate the next generation data cards, which will offer speeds up to 2mbps. Currently Reliance, Tatatele, etc have their CDMA/GSM based data cards in the Indian markets. However the quality and speed of the connectivity is not so impressive. WiMAX technology promises to take the internet truly wireless. WiMAX has tremendous capability; it can replace conventional cable TV with IPTV, Mobile Phones, Wired Broadband, and much more.

A single WiMAX station can connect to a radius of over 6 miles connecting hundreds of businesses @ T1 speeds and thousands of households @ DSL speeds as easy as FM radio. WiMAX's ability to deliver connectivity without line-of-sight makes it the preferred option over WiFi.

In Simple words WiMAX is just like your mobile signals (GSM, CDMA etc). While our cellular lines mainly carry voice (and little data) and WiMAX has kicked off mainly with high speed wireless broadband. Not many people enjoy high speed connectivity over the conventional GSM/CDMA networks. This is where WiMAX has taken over. Reliance Communications has already started to provide 2Mbps connections over WiMAX in India, and Tata Communications has just announced nationwide WiMAX rollout, the largest anywhere in the world of the high-speed, wireless broadband technology.

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Recently I heard news about Wimax technology being called a 'disaster' (that failed miserably) by Garth Freeman, CEO of Buzz Broadband - Australia's first WiMax operator. For a moment this put me in a doubt. Is WiMAX really dependable? But then looking at the confidence Intel, Nokia, Reliance Communications and others have show in this technology I was sure there must be something that Buzz Boradband missed out. And then I came across an article in Sydney Morning, which accused Buzz Broadband's cost cutting and poor setup for the failure of their WiMAX service. However I wont favor WiMAX technology too much as its yet to prove its might, but one thing I am very certain that WiMAX is a very promising technology and by year end we would surely know how real it is!

Read the original post on the future of WiMax at OnlyGizmos
 
WiMAX is a wireless digital communications system, also known as IEEE 802.16, that is intended for wireless "metropolitan area networks". WiMAX can provide broadband wireless access (BWA) up to 30 miles (50 km) for fixed stations, and 3 - 10 miles (5 - 15 km) for mobile stations. In contrast, the WiFi/802.11 wireless local area network standard is limited in most cases to only 100 - 300 feet (30 - 100m).

With WiMAX, WiFi-like data rates are easily supported, but the issue of interference is lessened. WiMAX operates on both licensed and non-licensed frequencies, providing a regulated environment and viable economic model for wireless carriers.

WiMAX can be used for wireless networking in much the same way as the more common WiFi protocol. WiMAX is a second-generation protocol that allows for more efficient bandwidth use, interference avoidance, and is intended to allow higher data rates over longer distances.

The IEEE 802.16 standard defines the technical features of the communications protocol. The WiMAX Forum offers a means of testing manufacturer's equipment for compatibility, as well as an industry group dedicated to fostering the development and commercialization of the technology.

WiMax.com provides a focal point for consumers, service providers, manufacturers, analysts, and researchers who are interested in WiMAX technology, services, and products. Soon, WiMAX will be a very well recognized term to describe wireless Internet access throughout the world.
 
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