What is Wimax? (for those that have no idea)

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alchamy

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Here is a piece taken from http://www.wimaxforum.org/

WiMAX is a standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to cable and DSL. WiMAX will provide fixed, nomadic, portable and, eventually, mobile wireless broadband connectivity without the need for direct line-of-sight with a base station. In a typical cell radius deployment of three to 10 kilometers, WiMAX Forum Certified™ systems can be expected to deliver capacity of up to 40 Mbps per channel, for fixed and portable access applications. This is enough bandwidth to simultaneously support hundreds of businesses with T-1 speed connectivity and thousands of residences with DSL speed connectivity. Mobile network deployments are expected to provide up to 15 Mbps of capacity within a typical cell radius deployment of up to three kilometers. It is expected that WiMAX technology will be incorporated in notebook computers and PDAs in 2006, allowing for urban areas and cities to become “MetroZones” for portable outdoor broadband wireless access.
 
Assuming that Telkom's crystal ball / sooth-sayers have told Sizwe & Steve that ADSL will pale in comparison to WiMax, it worries me that:
[a] Telkomonopoly are involved in WiMax (expect high prices)
There might only be space on the WiMax spectrum for one WiMax infrastructure/provider - i.e. the 1st to get licenced by ICASA, hence Telkomonopoly again.

Please tell me I'm wrong...
 
I'm still a bit unclear about this technology. So basically there's a few base stations and people staying close by can receive wireless internet connectivity?
 
WIWAIT vs WIMAX, iBurst already offers some of the promises of Wimax, and Iburst denied WIMAX the smart antenae technology. and some of the big local operaters have contacted iburst for the technology, but ooops
 
iburst said:
WIWAIT vs WIMAX, iBurst already offers some of the promises of Wimax, and Iburst denied WIMAX the smart antenae technology. and some of the big local operaters have contacted iburst for the technology, but ooops
Click to expand...

Couple of reasons why WiMax should turn out to be superior technology, what Telkom will turn it into is another issue though.

1. The tower range will be greater (not much)
2. Tower capacity is exponentially greater.
3. Worldwide GIANTS are involved vs Ibursts Kyocera & Arraycomm
4. The product development is following the same model as 3g with forums and panels that have been put in place to monitor & assure service levels of the technology
4. The product will not be "personal broadband" IE it will not be destined for capping/ (once again south africa not included in this thought because im sure even dialup is going to be capped on of these days)

Just another note on your post, you say iburst denied Wimax the adaptive antenna technology? How is that possible when the technology was developed and is owned by arraycom? Besides the fact that Wimax is develpoing a totally different solution already & would have no interest in iburst which is a far slower technology by nature.
 
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Razer0 said:
Also from what ive read around is that it will have DSL pings :D
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True. Gamers are going to flee from non-WIMAX services when WIMAX launches.

And in a few years we'll have our own WIMAX mesh networks :cool:
 
Razer0 said:
Also from what ive read around is that it will have DSL pings :D
Click to expand...

This is probably the most exiting thing for me about WiMAX. Apart from the large area of service per base station, low frequency signal (no line of sight), huge bandwidth, etc.

I did some reading and found this presentation pdf that seems to sum it up nicely: http://www.iee.org/OnComms/PN/communications/Slides_Senior.pdf

Key WiMAX Capabilities:
1. Centrally Coordinated Architecture Centrally Coordinated Architecture
– Highend Security, Encryption, and Service Authentication
– No Adhoc PP Client Communication is possible

2 Robust Radio Interface that works in NLOS Conditions Robust Radio Interface that works in NLOS Conditions
– OFDM PHY supports Indoor, self installation by endusers.

3. High Speed IP Services High Speed IP Services
– Optimized to deliver 110 Mbit/s (net) services (in 3.5 MHz)
- Up to 3550 Mbit/s (net) with large channels (1420 MHz)

4. 2nd Generation IP QoS Generation IP QoS
– Hierarchical QoS supports Realtime and Grant based service delivery (Not just Best Effort!)

5. A Low Delay Radio Interface A Low Delay Radio Interface
– enables Latency and Jitter sensitive applications (VoIP, Internet Gaming etc… )
–Transparency with Wired DSL
- even 3.5 MHz channels can be 510ms!
Click to expand...

Wow. Thats quite a list. One of the more overlooked capabilities is the QoS stuff in point 4. No more "best effort" services from Telkom like DSL etc. With WiMAX, if Telkom offers you 2Mbit (as they plan to do), the protocol allows them to guarantee that bandwidth (between you and the tower at least), which is pretty sweet.

Despite peoples fears about Telkom gaining monopoly of the airwaves as well, one should consider that the major cost in DSL at the moment is the line to your house. With WiMAX, that cost is spread amongst hundreds if not thousands of people, with little effect on speed and latency, since the base stations have such large capacities. Furthermore, you wont have to have a Telkom landline to use WiMAX (this is assumption - as ridiculous it may be for Telkom to tell us we need landline to use wireless, it is still possible). :)

Without the last mile fixed line cost, perhaps affordable broadband (at current DSL speeds at least) should be possible? Perhaps I'm being too optimistic?

The one thing one can be sure about is that the a Telkom-deployed WiMAX system will be reliable. Whether it will be affordable is the key issue.

If anyone at Telkom is reading this: please don't f*&# this one up. You can't complain that people steal your copper wires with WiMAX, now can you?
 
*foresees the future* News Headlines: 'TELKOM CHARGES RENTAL FOR AIRWAVES*
Just because they can...
 
Hi alchamy
can you assist me please i have a wireless iburst usb modem that i use for internet and playing xbox live ,my contract is due for upgrade ,the house that i stay in the coverage is low , what els can i get that is portable for the house
 
This thread is 5 years old. Perhaps start a new one.
 
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