Document Actions
Applications for WiMAX
The race is on in the service provider community to offer "triple play"
(voice, video and data) or "quadruple play" (voice, video data as well
as mobile voice and data). Some ser-vice providers are attempting to do
this with 3 or 4 dissimilar networks as illustrated in the figure
below. For example, at the time of this writing, Qwest Communications
Inter-national sold their own voice and broadband data for the
residential market, Dish Net-works for satellite TV and resells Sprint
Nextel cellular service. Reselling other service providers services
does not generate the profit margins as selling one's own services
does. Given the vertical orientation of legacy systems like cable TV
(only does TV), circuit-switched voice services (like cell phone
networks-designed almost entirely for voice), it is difficult and
expensive to offer more than one type of service on any one "stovepipe"
network. The solution is IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS).
Figure 31: Legacy "stovepipe" infrastructure cannot easily offer more than one service
IMS Vision
The vision for IMS is that an all-IP network will allow a subscriber to access a multitude of services regardless of how they access the network (cable TV modem, DSL, cellular, Wi-Fi, or WiMAX). Very simply put, the subscriber will be able to access any service on any device
Figure 32: IMS allows a subscriber to access any service on any device using any form of access
IMS began as a concept in the cell phone industry to offer voice, short messaging service (SMS) and video on cell phones. It utilizes a simple three-layer architecture consisting of the Connectivity Layer (similar to the physical layer in the OSI model), a Control Layer, which provides switching and signaling functions, and the Service Layer where applica-tions such as IPTV and VoIP features are offered. Running parallel to those function layers are a range of support systems, which control security and QoS across the network. The signaling protocol known as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) provides signaling across the network.
Fixed Wireless (IEEE 802.16-2004) Applications
Perhaps the most lucrative application for WiMAX is that of substitute for the telephone company's copper wire. This is achieved through fixed wireless solutions. A majority of US businesses and residences receive their telephone service and internet access via the telephone company's copper wires. A T1 data line from the telephone company may re-tail for $800/month in many US cities. About 50% of that expense is "local loop" charges or paying to use the telephone company's copper wire to access a wider network. As the diagram below illustrates, a WiMAX service provider could purchase the bandwidth equivalent of a T1 (1.54 Mbps) at, say, $45 and resell to an enterprise customer for $400. Through oversubscription (overselling), that service provider could realize a multiple of that profit.
PSTN bypass for fixed wireless T1/E1/DS3 substitute
Figure 33 WiMAX offers a substitute for the telephone company's T1/E1 or DS3
Next Section
Figure 31: Legacy "stovepipe" infrastructure cannot easily offer more than one service
IMS Vision
The vision for IMS is that an all-IP network will allow a subscriber to access a multitude of services regardless of how they access the network (cable TV modem, DSL, cellular, Wi-Fi, or WiMAX). Very simply put, the subscriber will be able to access any service on any device
Figure 32: IMS allows a subscriber to access any service on any device using any form of access
IMS began as a concept in the cell phone industry to offer voice, short messaging service (SMS) and video on cell phones. It utilizes a simple three-layer architecture consisting of the Connectivity Layer (similar to the physical layer in the OSI model), a Control Layer, which provides switching and signaling functions, and the Service Layer where applica-tions such as IPTV and VoIP features are offered. Running parallel to those function layers are a range of support systems, which control security and QoS across the network. The signaling protocol known as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) provides signaling across the network.
Fixed Wireless (IEEE 802.16-2004) Applications
Perhaps the most lucrative application for WiMAX is that of substitute for the telephone company's copper wire. This is achieved through fixed wireless solutions. A majority of US businesses and residences receive their telephone service and internet access via the telephone company's copper wires. A T1 data line from the telephone company may re-tail for $800/month in many US cities. About 50% of that expense is "local loop" charges or paying to use the telephone company's copper wire to access a wider network. As the diagram below illustrates, a WiMAX service provider could purchase the bandwidth equivalent of a T1 (1.54 Mbps) at, say, $45 and resell to an enterprise customer for $400. Through oversubscription (overselling), that service provider could realize a multiple of that profit.
PSTN bypass for fixed wireless T1/E1/DS3 substitute
Figure 33 WiMAX offers a substitute for the telephone company's T1/E1 or DS3
Next Section
