WiMAX Primer From Streaming Media

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A WiMAX Primer

WiMAX might still be unproven on a wide scale, but the trends toward commercializing the technology global adoption, low hardware prices, large corporate backing and favorable price-performance ratio re all evident. Here's an introduction to the technology.

By Michael Hallinan August 28, 2007

advertisementThis article appears in the August/ September issue of StreamingMedia magazine. Click here for your free subscription.

One of the few benefits of being

part of the military conflict in Iraq ishe opportunity to test and evaluatenew technologies. Two years ago Ihad the opportunity to deploywireless broadband networks,utilizing technology similar toMobile WiMAX in and around the

City of Fallujah during OperationAl Fajr. These networks offeredast installation and a robustommunications platform for voice,

data, and video applications in annvironment and terrain not suitedor wired networks.

Historically, defense technologyhat has been transferred to theivilian sector has changed much

of how the world works. Two examples are cellular communications and the internet. The wirelessbroadband technology coming out of this war will continue that tradition and have a significant impacton many industries, including streaming media.

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Definition WiMAX stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. The term WiMAX is theommercial name for the 802.16e-2005 protocol established by the Institute of Electrical and

Electronics Engineers (IEEE). WiMAX uses a modulation technique called Orthogonal FrequencyDivision Multiplexing (OFDM), which was first developed for high frequency military communicationsystems during the 1950s. The name was assigned by the WiMAX Forum, which describes WiMAX asa standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last-mile wireless broadband access as anlternative to cable and DSL.

802.11 WiFi WiFi is often confused with WiMAX. Unlike WiMAX, WiFi (802.11) is comprised of three versions knowns 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. The first version, 802.11a, operates on the 5 GHz band and isypically used to install longer-range connections because the signal suffers less interference. The other

versions, 802.11b and 802.11g, operate on the 2.4 GHz band and suffer interference from otherhousehold devices such as cordless phones and microwave ovens. These later b and g versions arehe common variety that you might purchase at a retail store and plug into your home network. The

802.11g version has the longest distance and uses OFDM technology similar to WiMAX. An additionalversion, 802.11n, will offer even greater distances and speeds, but ratification by the IEEE has been

delayed to late 2008.802.16 WiMAX As mentioned earlier, the WiMAX standard is based on the 802.16e-2005 protocol. In short, think ofWiMAX as WiFi on steroids due to its increased coverage area over WiFi and low deployment costsompared to 3G networks. By comparison, a typical WiFi router can blanket a small house with wirelessoverage while a WiMAX transmitter can potentially blanket an entire city (more than 20 miles) with

broadband coverage.

Deploying Wireless Networks Planning wireless networks is an art and a science. How a technology is deployed in a market is equally

mportant to its intrinsic capabilities and limitations. All wireless technologies are based on simpleprinciples such as frequency modulation (think AM vs. FM radio), power (more power = more distance),errain (line of site vs. buildings), availability of quality frequencies (interference vs. access), andecurity (open vs. closed). The successful deployment of new wireless technologies must strike aareful balance of technology (WiMAX), suitable power output, available airwaves or frequencies, andareful placement of the transmitters in order to maximize coverage and quality, yet minimize costs.

Corporate Stakeholders As WiMAX technology is adopted in the global marketplace, it is important to understand that there aremajor corporate stakeholders that want this technology to succeed. Nobody cares more about theuccess of WiMAX than Intel, which hopes to create unlimited demand and new markets for its

mbedded wireless chips within the new WiMAX ecosystem. It is a leader in the WiMAX Forum, whichs comprised of 420 members including chipmakers, hardware manufacturers, network operators, andervice providers. The organization s purpose is to certify and promote the compatibility andnteroperability of broadband wireless products based upon the harmonized IEEE 802.16/ETSI

HiperMAN (High Performance Radio Metropolitan Area Network) standard.

Commercialization Standardization of the 802.16e will ensure interoperability while increasing competition amonghardware manufacturers and driving down hardware prices for the consumer. As WiMAX is adopted on

global scale, competition is expected to rise, which will cause hardware prices to fall and exacerbate



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demand. A similar pattern was followed during the commercial adoption of WiFi in the consumer space.

Timeline Global momentum for WiMAX is notably strong and growing. In the United States, Clearwire launchedn 2003 and now operates in 39 domestic markets and four international markets, offering 1.5Mbps

download and up to 256Kbps upload speeds. Last fall, Sprint Nextel also announced that it plans todevelop and deploy the first 4G nationwide broadband mobile network based on Mobile WiMAX. Thenfrastructure costs will be $1 billion in 2007 and $1.5-$2 billion in 2008.

Most recently, Intel announced that it will begin to provide WiMAX cards for notebooks during 2008.More than 20 WiMAX deployments are under development internationally as well.

WiMAX Characteristics Range WiMAX offers maximum data transfer rates of 50Mbps, offering sustained user data rates of 0.5-2Mbps,llowing for simultaneous transfer of data (including high definition imagery), voice over IP (VoIP), andtreaming video. This technology also provides effective services at distances 3-5 miles for mobile

users (without a direct line of sight). A distance of 20 miles or more is expected for line of sightonnections.

Speed Data transmission speed is subject to many factors including bandwidth, number of other users,distance from base station, and network configuration. The WiMAX Forum suggests working peakdata rates of up to 15Mbps in 5 MHz are achievable.

Frequency Considerations Much debate is warranted on how governments allocate airwaves or frequency spectrum, andunfortunately, the topic is beyond the scope of this article, but the International TelecommunicationUnion (ITU) has identified the 2.3, 2.5, and 3.5 GHz bands for international broadband wireless access.Additionally, the 5.8 GHz band is also often considered for WiMAX use, but normally on an unlicensedbasis, which often translates into interference from other devices. Nevertheless, since 70% of theglobally issued WiMAX licenses are for 3.5 MHz spectrum, and the United States is backing 2.5 MHzervices, these bands are likely to see the greatest initial benefits in scale.

WiMAX Positioning n the United States, WiMAX is likely to enjoy greater frequency utilization and lower royalty overheadss compared to 3G networks. As a result, WiMAX is able to offer less expensive deployments andower voice and data prices for the consumer. In short, WiMAX is likely to provide elements ofonverged networks (voice, data, IPTV) while bridging the gap between broadband wired networksfiber, cable, DSL) and costly 3G networks (requiring more network elements). In the United States,

WiMAX services will compete most directly with 3G services due to its favorable price-performanceatio, and with DSL or cable networks where the wired infrastructure is limited due to terrain (rural orsolated areas).

Applications magine everyone has an unlimited data package on their PDA and the speed is limited to 512Kbps to.5Mbps. Some users pay per megabyte and others will pay a flat fee. What applications may developnd how might they impact streaming media? The list below is intended to offer some possibilities.

Many of these applications were used for military purposes as well as some social purposes in Iraq.Add some imagination and you ll see that the possibilities are endless.



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VoIP nitially, fixed voice over IP (VoIP) services are likely to be available in urban areas. WiMAX s ability toccomplish handoff and low latency, as well as guarantee service quality via traffic prioritizationuggests it meets all the requirements for a wireless voice network. Versatile handsets are likely tooute traffic over WiFi, WiMAX, or cellular networks based on availability.

Radio This also means that WiMAX can be used to stream radio or directions to a device enabled with MobileWiMAX.

PTV WiMAX lends itself well to the delivery of multimedia content. Video clips can be delivered to mobilehandsets, and files can be exchanged in mobile peer-to-peer forums.

Video Teleconferencing Video teleconferencing and personal broadcasting are now a possibility with broadband point-to-pointonnections that bypass internet congestion.

Displays Visual displays (movie trailers or product demonstrations) can be modified in real time citywide toapture the imagination of an audience of one or one hundred viewers.

nteractivity Broadband upload capability now means that users can contribute to communities in new ways usingvideo, photography, and voice. Devices such as phones, cameras, and PDAs can share content in realime.

Social Networking By combining GPS and WiMAX devices, new applications can be developed to derive value fromgeographical marketing, predictable behaviors, and community interests.

Public Works Aerial video surveillance is now a reality as public officials can monitor events using unmannedirplanes and a network of wireless video cameras delivering real-time video to a control station several

miles away.

Sensor Networks A sensor network is a network of devices (with built-in detection tools) that can exchange information,nd gain situational awareness of other nodes in the network in order to act intelligently andollaboratively. Sensor networks offer valuable transportation, marketing, and security applications.

Event-Based Media New media platforms can be used to capture and share community broadcast content for a given event:porting event, concert, graduation, etc.

Conclusion Like many new technologies, WiMAX has attracted some hype within the press. Some critics may sayhat the technology is still unproven on a wide scale, but the trends toward commercializing theechnology global adoption, low hardware prices, large corporate backing and favorable price-

performance ratio are all evident. This technology deserves experimentation and I believe it will bewidely adopted where it is needed most in developing economies lacking a reliable coppernfrastructure.



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Having installed many broadband wireless technologies in areas without existing infrastructure, I canell you that WiMAX works and that many innovative voice, data, and video applications will be

developed for this platform. They will serve social purposes as well as entertainment purposes.Whether WiMAX will become a commercial reality in the United States over the coming years is hard toay, but I can say with confidence that if it establishes itself anywhere in the world, it will definitely havedirect impact on streaming media and the development of applications that corporations,ommunities, and individuals will use to deliver information, entertainment, and advertising in the future.

Copyright 2006 Streaming Media Inc. an Information Today Inc. company. All rights reserved. Privacy policy.

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