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WiMax Technology Could Blanket the US?

Posted by Zonk on from the that's-a-lot-of-aetheric-packets dept.

obiwan2u writes "According to an article on WiMaxTrends, the metropolitan area wireless networking technology (MLAN) called WiMax could reach 90% of the mainland US population if about $3 billion was spent on infrastructure. The 802.16 standard specifies a max range of about 30 miles and a max speed of about 70 Mbits/sec, but typical ranges and speeds will typically be smaller. 802.16/WiMax specifies various licensed (3.5Ghz) and unlicensed (5Ghz) frequency ranges but the unlicensed ranges have Wi-Fi like transmitting power restrictions. More background on this technology can be seen at: WiMax starting to make its move and 802.16: Medium distance wireless networking that could change the world?"

7 of 249 comments (clear)

  1. mlan? by justforaday · · Score: 3, Informative

    I thought mlan was something else...

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  2. WiMax is here already.... by glomph · · Score: 3, Informative

    Where here is Jacksonville FL,
    St Cloud MN,
    Abilene TX,
    Daytona Beach FL....

    1. Re:WiMax is here already.... by Undertaker43017 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Clearwire doesn't use WiMax, they use 3GPP (cell technology). More specifically they use IPWireless's technology.

      There are no deployments of WiMax yet, because the field trials have not even started.

  3. Re:some thoughts by kakos · · Score: 3, Informative

    That's true if you're always uploading just as much as you download. The vast majority of people will be mostly downloading, so the half-duplex won't half the speed.

  4. Re:70 Mbps... total? by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 4, Informative

    I assume that 70Mbps is per channel. Add several sub channels and a web of towers and it could be substantial. As it is, ATSC allows a 20MBps connection over a single television channel, and it looks like WiMax is looking to make otherwise unused television bands easier to licence.

    Also, with internet service, I was told by an ISP guy that oversell ratios are often in the 50:1 ratio and it still nets very acceptable connection rates. You could probably sell 580 6Mbps accounts and still get the advertised speed. Multiply that by the number of channels available and you could serve a pretty substantial customer base.

  5. Who published? by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 5, Informative
    You know, whenever I see a study that makes some very broad sweeping claims about how successful something will be, I always look at who the source is. In this case, here's the copy/pasted "About the Author" from the bottom of the article. Bold emphasis is mine.

    " About the Author: Caroline Gabriel is Research Director of Rethink Research Associates and Editor of WiMAX Watch, a newsletter providing in-depth analysis of the WiMAX market. She is a featured columnist for Trendsmedia's WiMAX Trends, and is a leading industry analyst on wireless and wireless broadband technologies. She recently authored WiMAX Business Models 2004-2007: How to Make Money in WiMAX, published in the US/Canada by Trendsmedia. For further information, email info@trendsmedia.com"

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  6. Re:70 Mbps... total? by DevilM · · Score: 3, Informative

    That is a half-duplex signaling rate. Actual throughput is much less. Plus there aren't a lot of channels to use. 5.8Ghz is unlicensed, so that will be used up quickly. 3.5Ghz isn't available for us in the US. 2.5Ghz is all owned by Sprint/Nextel, Bellsouth, and Clearwire. Of those 3, only 1 is even interested in WiMax and they have the least amount of spectrum.

    WiMax is only a big deal in developing countries currently.