PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- A new broadband wireless metropolitan area
network (WirelessMAN) standard from the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE) provides for fixed broadband wireless access
(BWA) between 2 and 11 GHz. The standard, IEEE 802.16a, is an extension of
the global IEEE 802.16 WirelessMAN standard for 10 to 66 GHz published in
April 2002.
As in the base 802.16 (TM) standard, the advanced technology it
defines is designed from first principles to support multimedia services
such as videoconferencing, voice and gaming. New features, including an
optional mesh architecture, are also included.
IEEE.802.16a, "Air Interface for Fixed Broadband Wireless Access
Systems - Medium Access Control Modifications and Additional Physical
Layer Specifications for 2-11 GHz," sets the stage for the widespread
deployment of 2 to 11 GHz wireless MANs as an economical alternative to
wireline "first-mile" connections to public networks.
The standard supports licensed and license-exempt spectra between 2
and 11 GHz. These frequencies are well suited to residential and small
business applications using non-line-of-sight links. Wireless internet
services providers (WISPs), nationwide and multinational carriers, and
independent telephone companies will be major customers of equipment
developed under the standard.
"The new IEEE 802.16a standard reshapes the broadband landscape," says
Roger Marks, Chair of the 802.16 Working Group on Broadband Wireless
Access. "It closes the first-mile gap, giving users an easily installable,
wire-free method to access core networks for multimedia applications.
"Because the technology integrates well with IEEE 802.11 wireless
LANs, IEEE 802.16a base stations are excellent candidates for wirelessly
linking 802.11 hot spots to the Internet. The standard will also play a
vital role in underdeveloped regions in which advanced wired
infrastructures are unavailable."
Compliance and interoperability testing of WirelessMAN air interfaces,
from 2 to 66 GHz, is supported by the Worldwide Interoperability for
Microwave Access (WiMAX) Forum. Global acceptance of the WirelessMAN
standard is also supported by decisions of the European Telecommunications
Standards Institute (ETSI) to use a subset of 802.16a as a basis for an
ETSI standard.
You have many WiMAX Forum questions imho GWL. http://www.wimaxforum.org/about/exec.asp
What WECA Did for 802.11, WiMAX Strives To Do for 802.16 http://www.shorecliffcommunications.com/magazine/volume.asp?vol=27&story=261
The writer of this 802.16 eWeek article assumes that "The 802.16 standard can provide a flexible, cost-effective way to connect sites to broadband backbones. But, like the 802.11 WLAN standards, interoperability and security will be very much on the minds of IT managers thinking of deploying products using this standard in the future." http://www.eweek.com/print_article/0,3668,a=36475,00.asp
In the 802.16 vision, carriers would set up base stations connected to a public network. Each base station would support hundreds of fixed subscriber stations, probably mounted on rooftops. The base stations would then use the standard's medium access control layer (MAC) -- a common interface that makes the networks interoperable -- to nearly instantaneously allocate uplink and downlink bandwidth to subscribers according to their needs. http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1577591
IEEE 802.16 spec could disrupt wireless landscape http://www.commsdesign.com/news/OEG20030130S0055
IEEE approves 802.16 specifications; potential competition for 802.11
The IEEE Standards Authority last week approved a new set of specifications -- 802.16a for wireless metropolitan-area networks (WMANs). The new technology will operate in the 2 GHz to 11 GHz range. There are different concepts on relationship between 802.16a and 802.11, and it is not yet clear which one will win. Some envision 802.16a as providing a backbone for 802.11 hot spots. Pro-802.11 forces try to push 802.11 as a WMAN, although 802.11’s medium-access control (MAC) protocol is optimized for shorter range topologies. Others still see 802.16a as a complement to 802.11a/g within the enterprise. The 802.16 MAN gained its own study group in IEEE in 1999. The collapse of the telecom sector initially slowed its development, but the rapidly growing popularity of 802.11 rekindled interest in it. Supporters of WMAN have their own association -– Wi-Max Forum -- which works on developing interoperability tests based on the 802.16 task groups’ specifications. 802.16 has already scored a coup in public support that Intel and other leading vendors have lent to it (Intel leads the W-Max Forum; other members include Agilent Technologies, OFDM-Forum, Ensemble Communications, Hughes Network Systems, Intracom, Nera Telecommunications, Nokia, and Provigent). At the mid-January Wireless Communications Association conference in San Jose, California, Sriram Viswanathan, director of Intel Capital's Broadband and Wireless Networking Investments group, said that "802.11 is the first key disruption. 802.16 is the next." Viswanathan argued that in areas where wired infrastructure is not deployed, 802.16 is "a viable last-mile solution. And for WLAN hotspots, 802.16 is appropriate for backhaul."
Brief technical background: The 802.16a standard stipulates three physical layers (PHYs) for services:
-A single-carrier access method which was retained for special-purpose networks;
-A 256-carrier orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) multicarrier for mainstream applications;
-A special "OFDMa" standard with 2,048 carriers, which can be used for selective multicast applications and advanced multiplexing options in tiered metro networks. This mobility will not mean high-speed handoffs, but will aim to address the needs of slow-speed, lightly mobile users wishing to maintain some level of roaming within metro access points. A first draft of mobility will be completed in July.
Little outdated WiMax Forum pdf http://www.shorecliffcommunications.com/data/Wimax_whitepaper.pdf
OFDM-Forum Members http://www.ofdm-forum.com/members.html
Dr. Roger marks has done a remarkable job with the 802.16 group.
Several small companies on the 802.16 list no longer exist...many have morphed.
Isn't 802.16 a bust? Does any vendor support 802.16 compliant equipment? Aperto,Alvarion, Beamreach.. each has their own proprietary system and "may" claim 802.16 compatibility. Comments?
I do not recall back-haul as a focus area for 802.16..I did attend one meeting 2+ years ago.
••Base Station (BS)connected to public networks Base Station ••BS serves Subscriber Stations (SSs) ––SS typically serves a building (business or residence) ––provide SS with first-mile access to public networks
••Compared to a Wireless LAN: ––Multimedia QoS,not only contention-based ––Many more users ––Much higher data rates ––Much longer distances
Check Roger Marks tutorial on 802.16 (Zipped PowerPoint) to understand why this is important for providing broadband wireless access. 802.16a provides improved support for mesh networks, where each subscriber access point is also part of the routing infrastructure: IEEE 802.16: Process, Status, Plans http://www.bogor.net/idkf/idkf-wireless/bwwf2001/Emerging%20Global%20Standars%20In%20IEEE%20802.16.ppt
18 Apr 2000 -- New IEEE 802.16 Patent Policy and Procedures http://www.ieee802.org/secmail/msg00557.html
National Wireless Electronic Systems Testbed Site http://nwest.nist.gov/ http://ieee802.org/16/calendar.html
31 August 2001 (updated 3 September 2001): Chinese Officials and Experts Meet to Explore Use of IEEE 802.16 Broadband Wireless Access Standards http://nwest.nist.gov/nwestnews32.html Roger Marks lecture presentation materials are available for download. http://nwest.nist.gov/dml_marks.pdf
IEEE Standard Related-Patents 802.12 through 802.17 http://standards.ieee.org/db/patents/pat802_12.html
IEEE Standard Related-Patents 802.11 and Amendments http://standards.ieee.org/db/patents/pat802_11.html
For a general overview of the growing interest in non-line-of-sight wireless broadband systems, see the IEEE's Spectrum article: Wireless Broadband in a Box. http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/publicfeature/jun02/wire.html
".......What was most interesting were comments made about Intel's push into 802.16a: He said that Intel has assembled a team of IC developers who are working on yet unannounced versions of 802.16a, probably in combination with 802.11g/.11a capabilities for their Centrino (Banias) mobile wireless chipsets and desktop PC chips. Just what subset of 802.16a Intel will incorporate into their chips remains to be seen. The intent is to provide an "onramp" for WLAN hotspots and a user platform for WMAN.
My guesswork has been that Intel would be logically compeled to get into the 802.16a marketplace. The cards are all stacked up for them to do so: 1] They have gargantuan investments in leading edge semiconductor processes that lend themselves extremely well to GHz wireless chip designs including mixed analog/digital. 2] Intel has the most to lose and the most to gain by keeping at the center of the evoloving communications/computing convergence platform. Not only will they sell a lot of WMAN/WLAN chips but they will sell even more dollars worth of Flash memeory, other wireless chips, and processors that work with wireless or can be sold as a package to force out competition.
What are the implications of this move by Intel? It will signal the ligitimacy of 802.16a and the WMAN market. Intel and probably a couple other vendors including Broadcom, Texas Instruments, Fujitsu and others will define the "core" set of capabilites that flesh out the 802.16a standard and determine what the definition of compatibility will be. WiMAX or any other organization or company can define subsets of the standard and compliance testing regimens but they are dependent on the muscle of giants such as Intel to make whatever they do ligitimate in the eyes of the vast majority of consumers and to create a merchant market of ICs that will help to drive down the cost of CPEs.
I've been saying this for several months now, the semi companies will become major drivers in the proliferation of 802.16a and WBB in general. You cannot ignore the shift to commoditization of core functions into the hands of the IC giants. Failure to recognize this shift will lead to becoming a niche player in a greatly expanded market."
Wi-LAN's Patented W-OFDM Technology Incorporated into Universal WirelessMAN Standard
CALGARY, ALBERTA-- Semiconductor Companies, Intellectual Property Providers and Other Broadband Wireless Equipment Providers are Invited to Join Wi-LAN in Implementing IEEE Standard 802.16a
Wi-LAN Inc. (TSX:WIN - News), a global provider of broadband wireless communications products and technologies, today announced that the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) "WirelessMAN" Standard 802.16a, incorporates Wi-LAN's patented W-OFDM (Wide-band Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) technology. Wi-LAN is first to market with Standard 802.16a-like products and is dedicated to advancing the implementation of this standard. Wi-LAN encourages all interested parties, including semiconductor companies, intellectual property providers and other broadband wireless equipment providers, to join Wi-LAN in the implementation of IEEE Standard 802.16a.
Wi-LAN has a non-exclusive agreement with Fujitsu Microelectronics America (FMA) to develop Standard 802.16a System-on-Chip solutions.
more http://biz.yahoo.com/ccn/030204/71a8c4d46ce455aa0029876764e9490e_1.html
Wi-LAN W-OFDM incorporated into Standard 802.16a http://new.stockwatch.com/newsit/newsit_newsit.pasp?bid=B-205262-C:WIN&news_region=C&symbol=WIN http://www.stockhouse.ca/news/news.asp?tick=WIN&newsid=1493711
Various 802.16 articles:
Can Wi-Fi go the last mile? http://rtnews.globetechnology.com/servlet/ArticleNews/tech/RTGAM/20030204/gtwi/Technology/techBN/ 2003-02-04: Wi-LAN Wi-LAN's Patented W-OFDM Technology Incorporated into Universal WirelessMAN Standard 2003-02-03: Broadband Wireless Business Magazine IEEE Approves 802.16a WirelessMAN Standard 2003-01-31: eWeek New Wireless Standard, Same IT Issues 2003-01-31: internetnews.com IEEE Advances Wireless MAN Standard; see also: 802.11 Planet: IEEE Advances Wireless MAN Standard allNetDevices: IEEE Advances Wireless MAN Standard 2003-01-31: Slashdot IEEE Standards Board Passes 802.16a 2003-01-31: robertshaw.info [802.16a Approval] 2003-01-30: EE Times/CommsDesign IEEE 802.16 spec could disrupt wireless landscape; see also: Design And Reuse: IEEE 802.16 spec could disrupt wireless landscape SiliconStrategies.com: IEEE 802.16 spec could disrupt wireless landscape 2003-01-30: IEEE Standards Association IEEE Extends WirelessMAN™ Broadband Wireless Metropolitan Area Network Standard to Support Residential Applications http://www.wirelessman.org/pub/buzz.html
Curious if Wi-Lan get mentioned in connection with 802.16 more finally....
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