WiMAX: Defined

The term 'WiMAX' gets tossed around pretty freely these days. Just like Wi-Fi or 3G though, there are variations about what qualifies as a WiMAX product.

The WiMAX brand is an acronym that originates from the phrase "Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access". The industry trade association WiMAX Forum lays claim to the brand, which also gave birth to the group's name. WiMAX Forum exists to certify products that conform to the technical standard for both the radio and air protocol in addition to interoperability testing between multiple vendors' devices.

That technical standard today is derived from IEEE802.16 WirelessMAN and ETSI HiperMAN. Historically, ETSI standards are associated with European interests and IEEE standards are associated with North American interests, sometimes with competing results (such as the ETSI HiperLAN standard being dropped in favor of IEEE802.11, which we know today as the basis of Wi-Fi technologies). In the case of WiMAX, both groups agreed to harmonize their efforts and publish identical standards.

It is rare that you hear anyone talk today about the Wireless LAN market - instead they talk about Wi-Fi technologies. The same behavior is occurring with WiMAX technologies. Companies traditionally associated with the Broadband Wireless Access (BWA), Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), Broadband Wireless Internet Access (BWIA), or similar terms are generically calling their efforts WiMAX. WiMAX should be viewed as part of the BWA marketplace and not the other way around. WiMAX Forum Certified products are replacing the proprietary vendor solutions that preceded it. WiMAX can also be considered part of the mobile 3G marketplace, as it became an official 3G air protocol late last year by the ITU.

Defining WiMAX by the technical standard and the market classification is just the tip of the iceberg. Next, we'll discuss the suitability of WiMAX for fixed, stationary, nomadic, portable, and mobile applications. And we'll dive deeper in the certification process to understand which vendor products are WiMAX and which are proprietary 802.16 implementations.

Confused by the definition of WiMAX and what constitutes a WiMAX solution? Submit your comments to be addressed in future articles.

By Jeff Orr, ORR Technology

Wednesday, January 02, 2008 in Business  | Permalink |  Comments (0)