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What is WiMax? PDF Print E-mail

WiMax compared with Wi-Fi

Comparisons and confusion between WiMAX and Wi-Fi are frequent, possibly because both begin with the same two letters, are both based upon IEEE "802.x" standards, and are related to wireless connectivity and Internet access. However, the two standards are targeted at different applications and requirements.

  • WiMAX uses licensed spectrum to deliver a point-to-point connection to the Internet from an ISP to an end user. Different 802.16 standards provide different types of access, from portable to fixed. WiMax is developed primarily for wireless metropolitan area networks (WMANs), with a transmission range of miles.
  • Wi-Fi uses unlicensed spectrum to provide access to a network. Wi-Fi has primarily been developed for wireless local area networks (WLANs), with a transmission range of up to a few miles. Wi-Fi therefore is often used for last-mile delivery, such as hotspots.
  • WiMAX and Wi-Fi have quite different Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms. WiMAX uses a mechanism based on connections between the Base Station and the user device. Each connection is based on specific scheduling algorithms. Wi-Fi has introduced a QoS mechanism similar to fixed Ethernet, where packets can receive different priorities based on their tags. For example VoIP traffic may be given priority over web browsing.
  • Wi-Fi runs on the MAC's CSMA/CA protocol, which is connectionless and contention based, whereas WiMAX runs a connection-oriented MAC.
 
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