What is Mobile WiMAX?

Mobile WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), the IEEE 802.16e standard is a revolutionary new technology which enables broadband wireless access to be available to a range of mobile devices.  Mobile WiMAX is based on IEEE 801.16e-2005 standards which build on the strength of the Fixed WiMAX standards ( IEEE 802.16-2004) to provide a range of features which are essential for the use of broadband wireless in a mobile environment.

Mobile WiMAX has been designed to use in an environment where the mobile station ( MS) can be travelling at speeds up to 120 Kmph. The use in both handheld or mobile environment present challenges which have been successfully met in Mobile WiMAX  by incorporating specific features.

Some of the features which are unique to mobile WiMAX include:

(i)                  Use of large number of subcarriers linked with bandwidth to provide high resilience in non line of sight (NLOS) environments.

(ii)                Features to support mobility such as handover between base stations and roaming

(iii)               Use of new generation IPv6 as core architecture and mobile IP.

(iv)              Features to assign subchannels to users or applications to provide lower  granularity in applications

(v)                Features to conserve power in mobile handsets such as idle and sleep modes

(vi)              Multicast and Broadcast Service ( MBS) to deliver services to large number of users in a multicst mode

(vii)             Use of standardized profiles as certified by the WiMAX Forum for interoperability

(viii)           Sectorization and Partial utilization of sub-carriers( PUSC)

(ix)              Antenna beamforming and Advanced Antenna Systems (AAS)