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WiMAX Mobile Applications (802.16e)
In order to execute a true quadruple play strategy, a service provider
will need to offer mobile services. Even though it's called "mobile",
802.16e-2005 offers a number of ad-vantages to the fixed wireless
market as well. Better building penetration as well as im-provements in
security and QoS point to a strategy of "one network serves all".
WiMAX as cellular alternative
Of all the sub industries in telecommunications, perhaps the one best positioned to take advantage of WiMAX is the cellular service providers. They have a lot going for them including a wireless culture (RF engineers, wireless savvy sales staff, etc) and millions of "early adaptor" customers. On the other hand, the transition from legacy circuit switching and a dependency on the incumbent telephone service provider's network will not be easy or inexpensive.
As the diagram below supports, a large percentage of a cell phone operator's monthly operating expense (OPEX) is T1 backhaul to support their base stations. In addition, they use aging circuit switches (Class 4 and 5 as well as Mobile Switching Centers) to switch phone calls. These come with expensive annual service contracts. A WiMAX substitute for the cell phone infrastructure could be operated at as little as 10% of the OPEX of a cellular operator using legacy infrastructure.
Figure 36: The cellular network is a mixture of wireless and PSTN architectures
Source: Trendsmedia
Replacing a cell phone infrastructure with WiMAX will need to incorporate a large mo-bile data and mobile TV element with it as data bandwidth demands on the system will be far greater than what is now seen with a voice-centric cell phone network. The diagram below provides a high overview of a converged voice and data wireless network.
Figure 37: Perhaps the most immediate application for mobile WiMAX is mobile voice (cell phone) and data
When one mentions "mobile" the first thing to come to mind is cell phone service, which is a huge industry in itself. However, mobile now connotes a wide range of services be-yond voice to include mobile data and TV, as well as emergency services (police, fire, ambulance, aka 4.9 GHz market).
Figure 38: Samsung's WiBro telephone handset, considered to be the first WiMAX telephone handset
Source Samsung
Samsung's mobile WiMAX phone, the M8000, provides wireless broadband converged services delivered from a single IP-based network. The Samsung can handle broadcast-ing, home networking, videoconferencing, video on demand, and more.
Figure 39: WiMAX as a mobile voice and data network is potentially exponentially more efficient (profitable) than the legacy cellular infrastructure
A wireless operator will want to pay close attention to their ARPU while minimizing their OPEX. WiMAX allows an operator to do both simultaneously. Failure to update a legacy network could put an operator at risk of losing business to new market entrants armed with WiMAX.
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WiMAX as cellular alternative
Of all the sub industries in telecommunications, perhaps the one best positioned to take advantage of WiMAX is the cellular service providers. They have a lot going for them including a wireless culture (RF engineers, wireless savvy sales staff, etc) and millions of "early adaptor" customers. On the other hand, the transition from legacy circuit switching and a dependency on the incumbent telephone service provider's network will not be easy or inexpensive.
As the diagram below supports, a large percentage of a cell phone operator's monthly operating expense (OPEX) is T1 backhaul to support their base stations. In addition, they use aging circuit switches (Class 4 and 5 as well as Mobile Switching Centers) to switch phone calls. These come with expensive annual service contracts. A WiMAX substitute for the cell phone infrastructure could be operated at as little as 10% of the OPEX of a cellular operator using legacy infrastructure.
Figure 36: The cellular network is a mixture of wireless and PSTN architectures
Source: Trendsmedia
Replacing a cell phone infrastructure with WiMAX will need to incorporate a large mo-bile data and mobile TV element with it as data bandwidth demands on the system will be far greater than what is now seen with a voice-centric cell phone network. The diagram below provides a high overview of a converged voice and data wireless network.
Figure 37: Perhaps the most immediate application for mobile WiMAX is mobile voice (cell phone) and data
When one mentions "mobile" the first thing to come to mind is cell phone service, which is a huge industry in itself. However, mobile now connotes a wide range of services be-yond voice to include mobile data and TV, as well as emergency services (police, fire, ambulance, aka 4.9 GHz market).
Figure 38: Samsung's WiBro telephone handset, considered to be the first WiMAX telephone handset
Source Samsung
Samsung's mobile WiMAX phone, the M8000, provides wireless broadband converged services delivered from a single IP-based network. The Samsung can handle broadcast-ing, home networking, videoconferencing, video on demand, and more.
Figure 39: WiMAX as a mobile voice and data network is potentially exponentially more efficient (profitable) than the legacy cellular infrastructure
A wireless operator will want to pay close attention to their ARPU while minimizing their OPEX. WiMAX allows an operator to do both simultaneously. Failure to update a legacy network could put an operator at risk of losing business to new market entrants armed with WiMAX.
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