I'm going to be discussing the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, or WiMAX, an emerging technology aimed at improving the range and connectivity of wireless internet1.
WiMax offers the possibility of providing broadband internet to remote locations using efficient frequencies that can transmit high-speed broadband over long distances. Rather than needing to be hardwired to a cable provider, a WiMAX user can connect to the internet anywhere there is a signal.
Honestly, after reading a lot of informational sites, I still do not understand why WiMAX’s superiority lies in its broadcasting frequencies. But I think that this is a minor detail in the technology, because an overly technical definition is irrelevant to me, the writer, and I’m going to assume to you, the reader. All technical mumbo-jumbo aside, internet service providers utilize WiMAX by positioning radio towers in strategic locations. With these towers, they broadcast an internet network that can have a range of up to 50 kilometers 1.
WiMAX uses licensed frequencies which essentially give the ISP monopoly over a certain band in order to provide better quality and less interference than your standard wireless networks. This should not be confused with Wi-Fi which is an unlicensed network which ranges only about 50 meters and is intended to provide a private network1. The two technologies can be used in conjunction with one another, but it should be noted that one cannot connect to the internet using Wi-Fi unless there is an existing internet connection to the transmitter2.
The WiMAX Forum has been actively working to create a standard for WiMAX in order to benefit the costumers and the industry. By creating an industry standard, an economy of scale can be created which will drive down costs. Also, this will ensure interoperability between components manufactured by different companies. Unlike the cellphone industry, proponents of WiMAX standardization are hoping to reduce proprietary hardware requirements 2.
Why use WiMAX rather than your existing ISP? Well if you are reading this post, then you most likely do not need WiMAX. However, it may be hard to imagine, but not all of the world is hardwired for broadband internet access. Not even the entire earth has telephone lines which could allow for a 56k phone line connection. Using the power of WiMAX, the internet can be provided to the farthest corners of the planet, a feat previously unimagined.
For instance, say that you want to expand your operations by creating a factory in Bangladesh for the cheap labor (all ethics aside). Since this is still a developing nation, it is safe to assume that most of the country is not able to support high-speed internet access. However, with WiMAX you can provide broadband internet to your facility in order to better communicate with your workers. Now you will be able to upload new designs or plans, to keep up with the fast pace of international business and stay competitive 3.
The advantages of WiMAX are clear, it allows for the distribution of broadband internet to places that are unable or unready to support the infrastructure required. By constructing a single broadcasting tower, hundreds of clients can be serviced. Another advantage already mentioned is the speed of the internet provided. In a lot of places it is possible to connect via a phone line, but it is almost impossible to optimize the Web 2.0 experience with a snail paced internet connection.
However, there are also several disadvantages associated with WiMAX. Since these towers are not exactly cheap to construct there will be a limited quantity scattered around. But as the amount of users rises, the bandwidth remains constant until you are experiencing less than ideal network speeds. It would be quite a shame to invest in a pricey WiMAX project only to get bandwidth equivalent to a phone line connection. Finally, WiMAX service can be seriously disrupted by the weather which is a big risk with the intra-industry dependence on information technology 4.
SOURCES
1 "What is WiMAX?" WiMAX Spectrum Owners Alliance. 2007. 2 Oct. 2007 http://www.wisoa.net/site/what-is-wimax/
2 "Frequently Asked Questions." WiMAX Forum. 2007. 3 Oct. 2007 http://www.wimaxforum.org/technology/faq/.
3"WiMAX Broadband Wireless Technology." Intel Corporation. 2007. 3 Oct. 2007 http://www.intel.com/netcomms/technologies/wimax/index.htm.
4 "Disadvantages of WiMAX." Home-WLAN. 2007. 02 Oct. 2007 http://www.home-wlan.com/disadvantages-of-wimax.html
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