University of life science Prague

Departement of information technology

Fundamentals of WIMAX

By

Dehbi Sahbi

Computer Networks

Ing. Miloš Ulman, Ph.D.,

October 2013

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University of life science Prague.........................................................................................1Departement of information technology..............................................................................1Fundamentals of WIMAX...................................................................................................1

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ContentsContents

1.1 What is WIMAX

WiMAX (worldwide interoperability for microwave access) or (broadband wireless access to everyone ) is the commercial name for products based on the IEEE 802.16 standard as trade marked by the WiMAX Forum, an association of companies representing the ecosystem of the WiMAX technology.

Figure 1-1 WIMAX Forum

Figure 1-2 Example of Wimax device (sumsung mondi mobile device)

1.WIMAX Overview1.WIMAX Overview

1.2 WIMAX in the IEEE and WIMAX forum

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is the main body responsible for defining the protocol on which the WiMAX technology is based. IEEE 802 LAN/WAN Standard Committee develops Local Area Network and Metropolitan Area Network standards. The IEEE has designated the number 802.16 for broadband wireless access on which WiMAX is based.

While the IEEE standard defines the air interface, the WiMAX Forum has undertaken the task of defining the complete end-to-end network architecture and specifying the system profile to ensure worldwide interoperability of WiMAX equipment. The WiMAX Forum also undertakes the task of certifying vendor equipment as compliant with standard specifications in conjunctions with selected test and certification laboratories.

At the current moment, there are two commercial versions of WiMAX: Fixed WiMAX based on IEEE 802.16d and Mobile WiMAX based on IEEE 802.16e. Mobile WiMAX can be used in both fixed and mobile scenarios while Fixed WiMAX does not support mobility features.

Mobile WiMAX (originally based on 802.16e-2005) is the revision that was deployed in many countries, and basis of future revisions such as 802.16m-2011.

Figure 1-3 The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Logo

WIMAX technology works a little different than Wifi technology. In wifi computers can be connected through LAN card to near by access point, wireless router or any Hotspot, it does not work this way when we talk about connectivity in WiMAX.

WiMAX network connectivity constitutes of 2 parts

2.1. WiMAX Base station

As name explains base station is place where WIMAX signals are broadcasted it consists of electronic devices and WIMAX tower exactly like GSM netwok phones towers standing high up in the air to broadcast radio signals, WIMAX base station can over up 10km radius in theory it suggest to cover a lot more distance than just 10km, it can reach somewhere 50km (30 miles) but in fact to certain geographical limitation it goes as far as 10 km approx 6 miles.

2.2 WIMAX Receiver

It is device or devices which receivers the signals from WIMAX base station and connects to the WIMAX networks these devices are usually stand alone antenna or PCMCIA slot card for laptops or computers.Connecting to WIMAX base station works as similar as connection of Wifi to access point works, the only difference is that WIMAX covers much wider area.

2. How WIMAX Work ?2. How WIMAX Work ?

Figure 2-1 How WIMAX Work?

Components of Wimax network architectureComponents of Wimax network architecture

There three main components of WIMAX network architecture The first component is the Mobile Stations MB which are use as source of network

connection for the end user. The second component is an Access Service Network ASN which comprises one or

more base stations and one or more ASN gateways that form the radio access network at the edge.

The third one is Connectivity service network (CSN), which provides IP connectivity and all the IP core network functions.

The network reference model developed by the WiMAX Forum NWG defines a number of functional entities and interfaces between those entities. Fig below shows some of the more important functional entities. Base station (BS): The BS is responsible for providing the air interface to the MS.

Additional functions that may be part of the BS are micromobility management functions, such as handoff triggering and tunnel establishment, radio resource management, QoS policy enforcement, traffic classification, DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol) proxy, key management, session management, and multicast group management.

Access service network gateway (ASN-GW): The ASN gateway typically acts as a layer 2 traffic aggregation point within an ASN. Additional functions that may be part of the ASN gateway include intra-ASN location management and paging, radio resource management and admission control, caching of subscriber profiles and encryption keys, AAA (Authentication, Authorization and Accounting)client functionality, establishment and management of mobility tunnel with base stations, QoS and policy enforcement, foreign agent functionality for mobile IP, and routing to the selected CSN

Connectivity service network (CSN): The CSN provides connectivity to the Internet, ASP, other public networks, and corporate networks. The CSN is owned by the NSP and includes AAA servers that support authentication for the devices, users, and specific services. The CSN also provides per user policy management of QoS and security. The CSN is also responsible for IP address management, support for roaming between different NSPs, location management between ASNs, and mobility and roaming between ASNs.

3.WIMAX ArchitectureWIMAX Architecture

Figure 3-1 IP-Based WIMAX network Architecture

Figure 3-2 Wimax architecture

3.1 Use

Providing portable mobile broadband connectivity across cities and countries through a variety of devices.

Providing a wireless alternative to cable and DSL(digital subscribe line) for last mile broadband access

Providing Data, telecommunication (VoIP) and (IPTv) services (triple play). Providing source of internet connectivity as part business continuity plan. Support roaming and internetworking. Providing a variety of functions such as ASP, mobile telephony, delivery of IP

broadcasting such as MMS and SMS

Figure 4-1 Wimax forum statistic of wimax`s users

3.2 Features

Offers high speed broadband access Offers modulation and error connection Support reliability of data Wimax MAC layer (Data link layer is the second layer of OSI ) Support multipath (OFDM based) Wimax mobility

4. Use and Features of WIMAX4. Use and Features of WIMAX

5.1 WIMAX vs WiFi

Wimax technology is a standard based wireless technology which is used to provide internet access and multimedia services at very high speed to the end user. The Wifi technology is still using local area network (LAN) for the predictable future. Wimax and wifi differences are very simple as below.

The basic difference between Wimax technology and Wifi technology are cost, speed, distance and so on. Wimax coverage is about 30 miles and Wifi coverage is very limited to some small area.

Wimax network just as an ISP without any cable because Wimax singnal used to get access to internet to your home or business, while Wifi will be used inside in your local area network (LAN) for access to the internet.

The Wimax architecture is design to make possible metropolitan area networking (MAN). The base station of Wimax capable to provide access to business and hundred of homes, While Wifi is providing only local area networking (LAN)

The deployments of Wimax and Wifi network are same both ISP would have their T3 access. The line of sight antennas used to connect tower in Wimax technology. The tower shared out the non line of sight to MAN

.

5.2 WIMAX vs WiBro

WiBro is a new wireless technology developed to consent user to watch TV on their cell phones. South Korea telecom industry developed IEEE 802.16e as international standard. Wibro implement TDD for duplexing. It uses OFDM for manifold access with 8.75 MHz as a channel bandwidth. WiBro was developed to defeat the data rate restrictions of cell phones as CDMA. WiBro also used to adjoin mobility to broadband Internet access like ADSL. WiBro wireless technology is still in the developmental process and when it improves it may call for an entirely different standard on the whole with a finally different name.

5. WIMAX vs WiFi Comparison of WIMAX and WiBro5. WIMAX vs WiFi Comparison of WIMAX and WiBro

6.1 Wimax Deployments in Lao Cai, Vietnam

Lao Cai is a maintained area located on Chinese border in Vietnam. It has round about 600,000 populations been most community is very poor. Intel, USAID, and VDC get on partnership to bring broadband and VoIP services via Wimax technology in region in 2004. The objective behind this partnership is that to encourage overseas investment and promote economic development in a region. Than Lao Cai had attractive good mobile phone exposure in the region. The wimax network contains a single base station bound to provide internet access via a fiber optical backhaul. Wimax deployment is offering services in the city and nearby areas. In urban areas VoIP services would also be put in practice which offering telecommunication services specially when there is never had a phone. In the Wimax deployment there is a base station which has an antenna that installed up to 70 meters on a telecommunications tower. In Internet café, government offices, schools, health centers, and farm about 20 modem installed and sip phone provided to each site. Then within local PSTN a line up VoIP switch and gateway connected which are located 300 miles away. Now the community of Lao Cai makes progress with broadband and telecommunication transportation. Nowadays Intel which is a leader to introduce this technology is thinking to implement Wimax deployment in nearby areas to get better economical status and for this it providing satellite backhaul for VoIP and broadband access.

6.2 Wimax Deployments in Gauteng, South Africa

The deployment of Wimax technology is beginning in Gauteng which is the province of South Africa. Gauteng is a large industrial region and Pretoria and Johannesburg are its popular cities. Almost in 150 countries Wimax deployment has been established and a WiMAX business market share of over 60% within 3.5 GHZ frequency range. Wimax broadband access is offering multimedia internet, Voice and data services. According to a report internet carry on to achieve approval in South Africa. This has socio-economic implication that goes ahead of the ideological or moral with very real insinuation for the development of the Internet economy in South Africa. The deployment of WiMAX technology is an inexpensively practicable means to recommend equivalent access for all.

6.3 Wimax Deployments in the United States

Clearwire and Sprint Nextel have been buying up Wimax spectrum in the united states. They both creating a large metropolitan market and offering 2.5 GHz frequency to 30 million users at the end of 2010. Sprint also choose the Wimax format for 4G network and Nokia, Samsung, Intel and Motorola may be excepted partner in wireless broadband scheme. The subscriber base of Clearwire is round about 200,000 and now focusing on

6. WIMAX Deployment6. WIMAX Deployment

the urban market because in rural areas there are no broadband internet services. Clearwire is playing a major role to promote Wimax Technology market and be expecting to be capable to roll out their networks more rapidly.

According to a 4G research report almost 600 Wimax deployments are now alive by the end of 2009. Therefore Wimax deployment may exceed HSPA deployment because by HSPA and LTE. There are only 300 cellular networks are alive and only 70 operators have committed with them for the deployment of Wimax technology. The rapid growth of Wimax is due to wide range of coverage not only in specific areas but also in urban or rural areas. In 2011 it is expected that Wimax deployment will increase more vastly than before because of its significant features

wimax technology was designed to compete with remote locations that presently employs satellite for internet connectivity. Wimax technology can operate on both licensed and non licensed frequencies.Wimax Technology is powerful mobile technology but are facing some disadvantages discussed below.

7.1 Lack of Quality

The Wimax network has lack of quality service because there are hundreds of people trying to get access at the same tower so due to heavy traffic it is very hard to maintain high quality.

7.2 Wimax range

The other disadvantage of Wimax network is range. As Wimax offer 70Mbps in range with moving station but in practice it is quite different because it is possible only in specify or ideal circumstances. If a user staying away from the specified environment then speed can drop considerably.

7.3 Wimax Bandwidth

Like other network Bandwidth is collective amongst clients in a specified zone. But if there are a lot of users in one area the speed decreases which may be 2 to 10 Mbps of shared bandwidth.

7.4 Expensive network

The most disadvantage of Wimax is its installation and operational cost. Due to heavy structure, tower, antennas etc makes the Wimax network collectively high cost network.

7.5 Bad Weather

The quality of services decreases in rainy season because the weather condition could interrupt the signal which may cause of bad signal and broadcasting may be stop or interrupted.

7.6 Wireless equipments

If you are trying to use much wireless equipment at a time within Wimax network then these equipments may cause of interference and could interfere your broadcasting data or face some compromised speed.

7. Disadvantage of WIMAX 7. Disadvantage of WIMAX

7.7 Power consuming

Wimax network is very heavy in structure therefore need much electrical support for running the overall network.

7.8 Data Rate

The data rate of Wimax as compared to other network such as fiber optics, satellite, cables etc are very slow

Figure 1-4 Wimax Forum..................................................................................................-3.Figure 1-2 Example of Wimax device (sumsung mondi mobile device)...................................................................-3-Figure 1-5 The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Logo.................................................................-4-Figure 2-1 How WimaxWork?..........................................................................................-6-Figure 3-1 IP-Based Wimax network Architecture...........................................................-8-Figure 3-2 WimaxArchitecture.......................................................................................-8-Figure 4-1 Wimax forum statistic of wimax`s users.......................................................-9-

'Fundamentals of Wimax : a technology primer by Frank Rayal 2010 Blog of Wimax architecture posted by ing jawad ahmed Riaz Phd www,wifinotes.com www.busnessdictionary.com

List of Figures

BibliographyBibliography