WiMAX, an alternative to cable and DSL is the standard based broadband wireless access technology for enabling the last mile delivery of information. WiMAX provides fixed, nomadic, portable and eventually, mobile wireless broadband connectivity without the need for direct line of sight connection between a base station and a subscriber station. Though there has been much discussion about the existence of technologies like Wi Fi, 3G and WiMAX, they will coexist, working together to meet unique customer needs. It is likely that no single broadband wireless technology will become dominant or ubiquitous.

Broadband penetration around the world is limited due to copper availability and the cost and time involved with new layout of fiber/copper. Resilient, high bandwidth, cost-effective wireless technology is the only way to expand the broadband infrastructure globally. WiMAX is therefore the suitable answer.

India like Russia, Brazil and other countries could benefit from WiMAX in the very near term. Increasing broadband penetration from less than 5% to over 20% in the next 10 years can happen with WiMAX. It is expected to have far greater impact on Internet access than existing technologies such as DSL. Explains Manish Gupta, VP, Marketing and Alliance, Aperto Networks, “Wireless last-mile broadband could accelerate the deployment of meshed office wireless LANs (like Wi-Fi) and businesses could then backhaul the LAN traffic to the WiMAX network. Service providers will be able to quickly provide on-demand high-speed connectivity to businesses anywhere within their base station range. This will encourage distributed urban and suburban business development, as broadband services are no longer limited by fixed connectivity resources.”

There are two applications of WiMAX - fixed WiMAX and mobile WiMAX. Fixed WiMAX applications are point-to-multipoint enabling broadband access to homes and businesses, whereas mobile WiMAX offers the full mobility of cellular networks at true broadband speeds. Both fixed and mobile applications of WiMAX are engineered to help deliver ubiquitous, high-throughput broadband wireless services at a low cost. However, there is still some time for mobile WiMAX to catch on in India.

Cost effectiveness of WiMAX

WiMAX is a more flexible technology when it comes to providing data connection wirelessly and has a simpler core. From 2008, laptops and mobile phones will include WiMAX, just like Wi Fi. The simpler architecture based on IP will keep the cost of the networks substantially lower that 3G networks. Also being completely IP-based, the network utilisation is bound to be more effective. WiMAX also boasts of higher spectral efficiency which implies greater return on investment in case of licensed band usage.

Elaborates Bijay Singh Bisht, manager, Product Development, GlobalLogic, “WiMAX appears to take a middle path with respect to mobility and throughput between the other major competing wireless technologies like Wi Fi and 3G. While Wi Fi has the advantage of higher bandwidth, it is basically a L2/L3 technology and does not have any support for mobility or AAA (no core network). 3G on the other hand, provides mobility and both voice and data services, it however supports a lower peak data rate in the uplink and downlink as compared to WiMAX and is also inflexible in varying the downlink/uplink data rate ratio. The core network in the 3G is inherently more complicated whereas WiMAX core network in built on lightweight internet architecture.”

WiMAX also has a better support for the QoS required for real-time services over IP. WiMAX Medium Access Layer has been built from scratch to support the QoS required by the applications, this along with the fact that the WiMAX can deliver high data rates (peak 46Mpbs) and is flexible in changing the uplink and downlink data rates, it is capable of delivering a greater quality of service vis-à-vis 3G.

Wi Fi uses unlicensed spectrum which places restriction on the peak transmission power thus limiting the coverage. WiMAX on the other hand uses licensed and unlicensed bandwidth, so it can provide hot spots using unlicensed band and elsewhere use licensed band. 3G uses only licensed bandwidth.

Collaborating with Indian telecom players

Various multinationals are coming up with innovative technologies in the WiMAX segment in India. Players like Intel, Aperto Networks, Nortel, Alcatel-Lucent and others have already deployed their solutions in association with Indian telecom majors.

Informs Gupta, “Aperto Networks has deployed its PacketMAX solutions build on proven technologies and incorporating the latest WiMAX-compliant features along with VSNL and BSNL .The six initial cities getting the WiMAX equipment are Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmadabad, Hyderabad and Pune.” The WiMAX network will enable BSNL and VSNL to offer enterprise customers a wide range of value-added, high bandwidth data communications services such as MPLS, VPN, leased line and Internet access, as well as VoIP, telemedicine, e-education, e-governance and e-commerce in remote areas.

Intel, on the other hand, is providing full support to the government to meet its target of increasing net connectivity from 5 million in 2006 to 45 million in 2010, by accelerating the use of wireless broadband technologies, such as WiMAX, across India. According to Surendra Arora, director, South Asia (Customer Solutions Group), Intel, “To offer wireless broadband connectivity at railway stations across India, Intel will work with Tata VSNL bringing Intel-based PC solutions and WiMAX broadband connectivity to Tata's RailTel Cyber cafes. Intel is working within the wireless industry to drive the deployment of both Wi-Fi and WiMAX networks.”

Investing big time in WiMAX infrastructure

In India, wireless technologies are emerging as an affordable, reliable alternative for fixed-line access. The Wimax rollout will be provided by leading telecom players like BSNL, VSNL, MTNL, Airtel, Hutch and Reliance.

It is quite possible that India may become the largest market for WiMAX in the near future. Certain research reports project $400 million - $500 million to be invested in WiMAX infrastructure in India over the next 3 years. This represents 5-10% of the global investment in the same time frame.

“The Indian government is taking measured steps to enhance the opportunity to leverage WiMAX across India. Recent de-licensing of 50MHz of spectrum in the 5.8GHz band and promise to release space in the 3.5GHz-licensed band are examples of such support measures. The end consumers can anticipate getting broadband access to their homes via fixed subscriber devices on rooftops or inside the house as well as in portable settings on their laptops via PC cards or through internal integrated WiMAX modems,” concludes Bisht.