wilamowski-b-m-irwin-j-d-industrial-communication-systems-2011

52
WiMAX in Industry
Milos Manic
University of Idaho
Idaho Falls
Sergiu-Dan Stan
Technical University
of Cluj-Napoca
Strahinja Stankovic
Ninet Company Wireless ISP
52.1 Introduction..................................................................................... 52-1
52.2 The WiMAX Broadband Technology.......................................... 52-3
Backhaul/Access Network Applications. •. Relationship
with Other Wireless Technologies. •. WiMAX vs. Wi-Fi
52.3 WiMAX Architecture.....................................................................52-4
MAC Layer/Data Link Layer. •. PHYsical Layer. •. WiMAX
Equipment
52.4 The WiMAX Forum and Working Groups.................................52-6
52.5 Integration with Other Networks.................................................52-6
WiMAX-DSL Integration. •. WiMAX-3GPP Integration
52.6 Conclusion........................................................................................52-8
References....................................................................................................52-8
52.1 Introduction
Most recent statistics presented by International Telecommunication Union (ITU) show that wireless
mobile services exploded from 11 million subscribers worldwide in 1990 to over 2 billion in 2005 [1].
Worldwide interoperability for microwave access (or WiMAX) has materialized as reaction to the
everlasting need for high-speed broadband access, relieving the Internet providers from needed infrastructure
costs, especially apparent in rural and remote areas. WiMAX technology merges together the
convenience of wireless technology with compelling performance of broadband access and can be seen
as the next logical step in the evolution of wireless and mobile technologies, with a goal of providing
Internet connectivity to the widest array of ubiquitous mobile devices ranging from laptop PCs, cellular
and smartphones, palm pilots, handsets, input/output devices to consumer electronics such as gaming
devices, cameras, musical devices like iPODs, and others.
Following the steps of the Wi-Fi technology, the WiMAX has now become available and affordable
technology, becoming a name for the standard itself. WiMAX is based upon the IEEE 802.16 wireless
metropolitan area networks (WirelessMAN) technology family, which provides specifications of the
media access control (MAC) layer and the PHYsical (PHY) layer [2]. The exact term “WiMAX” is not
a standard, it is rather a marketing term (produced by WiMAX forum • ) that has become synonymous
with IEEE 802.16-based networks, in a similar fashion as the “Wi-Fi” has become a synonym for the
IEEE 802.11-based wide area networks (WANs). The WiMAX really refers to the subset of IEEE 802.16
capabilities, briefly addressed in following paragraphs.
The WiMAX technology is a standards-based wireless technology for providing high-speed broadband
connectivity to not only homes and businesses but also for mobile wireless networks (Figures 52.1
and 52.2). The WiMAX therefore established itself as the so-called “last-mile” (short distance, broadband
to home) connection.
52-1
© 2011 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC