Understanding WiMAX Technology

WiMAX actually stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, and is a wireless communication standard. Of the standards currently being developed for 4G it is the closest in practice to current Wi-Fi, though it provides several notable advantages. WiMAX was developed in 2001 and is described by the WiMAX forum as "a standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to cable and DSL". This “last mile” refers to the often difficult process of getting access to a consumer from a local data station, be it in the form of a telephone cable, wireless device or other broadcasting technology.

What is WiMAX?

While it operates using many of the same fundamental principles as Wi-Fi networks, it offers a far greater signal range than the 100 feet provided by most conventional Wi-Fi modems. Instead, WiMAX boasts a 30 mile radius, large enough to cover portions of major cities. In addition, this standard is intended to provide 30 to 40 megabits per second as a transfer rate, with a 2011 update to the standard yielding up to 1 gigabit per second at fixed points. It should be noted, however, that bandwidth on a WiMAX network is not exclusive to users and instead must be split, meaning that while higher speeds may be advertised, the number of users can lower transfer rates in practice.
WiMAX uses IEEE 802.16 wireless network standards that are interoperable, as compared to the IEEE 802.11 standards used by wireless LANs. The original standard, as mentioned above, was developed in 2001 and borrowed some of its technology from a service known as WiBRO, used in South Korea. This standard is sometimes referred to as “Wi-Fi on steroids” for its ability to far outperform Wi-Fi transfer rates and signal distance, and gained significant ground in the market with the deployment of Mobile WiMAX, based on 802.16e-2005, and which led to the 802.16e-2011 revision and higher data transfer rates.