WiMAX and Wireless Networks

Introduction | How WiMAX Works | Poised for Success | Getting Started

WiMAX Introduction

Think about how you access the Internet today. You are limited to three options:

• Broadband access - You have a DSL or cable modem in your home; your employer uses a T1 or a T3 line at the office.

• WiFi access - In your home or office, you access the Web through a WiFi router. While away, you connect to WiFi hot spots at pre-defined areas such as coffee shops, libraries and hotels.

• Dial-up access - Broadband access is probably not available if you are using a dial-up. It might also be too expensive.

The main limitations with broadband access are that it is expensive, you are at the mercy of the local phone or cable company, and it doesn't reach everywhere. The main problem with WiFi access is that hot spots are pre-determined, so access may be inconvenient or simply unavailable.

Now what if there were a new technology that could surpass these limitations and provide:

• High speed, broadband connections

• Universal access instead of limited WiFi hot spots

• Wireless rather than wired access, so it becomes less expensive than cable or DSL to install, cheaper to maintain, and much easier to extend to remote areas

This new technology is actually available worldwide right now. It is called WiMAX, which stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, and it also goes by the IEEE name 802.16.

Like the way that people have sacrificed their "land lines" for the freedom of cell phones, WiMAX will probably replace cable and DSL services, providing universal Internet access almost anywhere you go. By turning your computer on, you will automatically be connected to the closest available WiMAX Network.

» How WiMAX Works