Contents
1
Introduction..................................................................................1
Give Me More: The Need for Broadband.................................................. 2
Going Wireless: Enabling the Revolution.................................................. 2
Broadband Goes Wireless.......................................................................... 3
Understanding Wireless Networks............................................................ 4
Defining Standards .................................................................................... 4
Wireless Network Types............................................................................ 5
Wireless Wide Area Networks .............................................................. 6
Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks.................................................. 7
Wireless Local Area Networks .............................................................. 7
Wireless Personal Area Networks......................................................... 8
Key Wireless Technologies ........................................................................ 8
UWB...................................................................................................... 8
Wi-Fi ...................................................................................................... 9
WiMAX.................................................................................................. 9
Cellular Technologies and the Emergence of 3G................................. 9
Dynamics of Wireless Technologies ........................................................ 11
Opportunity for Wireless Technologies .................................................. 13
Always Best-Connected ........................................................................... 14
The Goal.................................................................................................. 15
Challenges ............................................................................................... 16
Key to Success: WiMAX........................................................................... 17
2
Setting the Stage .........................................................................21
The Knowledge Economy....................................................................... 23
Phases of the Knowledge Economy................................................... 23
The Island Phase ............................................................................ 24
The Archipelago Phase................................................................... 24
The Continent Phase...................................................................... 25
The Need for Connectivity ..................................................................... 26
Communication: Evolving with Mankind ............................................... 27
© 2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
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Contents
The Global Brain ..................................................................................... 29
The Digital Divide: What Does It Signify?............................................... 31
Bridging the Digital Divide................................................................. 33
Wireless Broadband: Connecting the Poor ........................................ 35
The Digital Enterprise: Changing the Way Business Is Run............... 35
The Case of the Teleservices Industry ............................................... 36
Digital Market: Impact of E-Commerce................................................... 38
Digital Government: Assessing E-Government........................................ 39
The Economic Impact of Telecommunication ....................................... 41
3
Telecommunication: A Connecting Mechanism......................45
Telecommunication: Continuously Evolving........................................... 46
Trends in Transmission Technology.................................................... 50
Trends in Subscriber Access Technology ........................................... 51
Trends in Transmission Coding Technology ........................................... 54
SONET................................................................................................. 54
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM).................................................. 54
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) ...................................... 55
Trends in Switching Technology ........................................................ 56
A New Era of Telecommunication .......................................................... 58
The Network Is Born .............................................................................. 59
Comparing the Telecom and Data Network Models .............................. 59
Model .................................................................................................. 60
Protocols ............................................................................................. 61
Quality of Service ............................................................................... 62
Accessibility and Universal Reach...................................................... 62
Charging.............................................................................................. 64
4
The Internet Takes Off...............................................................65
The Birth of the Commercial Internet ................................................... 66
Related Networks.................................................................................... 67
Internet Evolution ................................................................................... 68
The Technology behind the Internet...................................................... 68
Backhaul Technologies ............................................................................ 69
Distribution Technologies ....................................................................... 70
Unprecedented Internet Growth............................................................ 74
The Impact of the Internet..................................................................... 76
Society and Individuals....................................................................... 76
Enterprises and Businesses................................................................. 78
5
The Broader the Better ..............................................................81
The Need for Broadband ........................................................................ 83
Why Broadband? ..................................................................................... 84
Broadband Applications .......................................................................... 84
Enterprises and Businesses................................................................. 85
The Community.................................................................................. 85
Individuals........................................................................................... 86
© 2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Contents

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Broadband Technologies ......................................................................... 86
ISDN.................................................................................................... 87
Cable Internet Access ......................................................................... 87
Digital Subscriber Line ....................................................................... 88
Fiber-to-the-Cabinet and Fiber-to-the-Home ....................................... 90
Wireless Access................................................................................... 91
Broadband Drivers and Pitfalls ............................................................... 91
Catalysts .............................................................................................. 92
Uncertainties....................................................................................... 93
6
Wired versus Wireless................................................................95
The Future of Wireline............................................................................ 96
Why Go Wireless?.................................................................................... 97
The WLL Revolution................................................................................ 98
Best of Both Worlds ............................................................................ 99
Wireless Data Access............................................................................. 100
Connectivity without Strings ................................................................ 101
Wireless Networks............................................................................ 103
Wireless Internet: Boom Time............................................................... 104
What Is Coming? .............................................................................. 105
Benefits of Going Wireless................................................................ 105
Enhanced Customer Satisfaction ................................................. 106
Higher Profile in Target Market.................................................... 106
Gain Customer Advantage............................................................ 106
Enhanced Productivity ................................................................. 106
Increase Revenue Streams ........................................................... 107
Flavors of Wireless Internet .................................................................. 107
Satellite Technology .......................................................................... 107
Cellular Technology .......................................................................... 108
First-Generation Mobile Systems.................................................. 108
Second-Generation Mobile Systems............................................. 109
2.5G Mobile Systems.................................................................... 109
Third-Generation Mobile Systems................................................ 110
Wireless Network Technology .............................................................. 111
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)............................................................ 112
Point-to-Point ................................................................................ 113
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)......................................... 113
Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN)........................................ 114
Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN).................................... 114
Wireless Region Area Network (WRAN) ..................................... 114
Wireless Networks and Mobile Convergence .................................. 117
Drivers for Wireless Networks .............................................................. 117
Issues for Wireless Networks ................................................................ 119
Standards........................................................................................... 120
Coverage ........................................................................................... 120
Security ............................................................................................. 120
Interoperability ................................................................................. 120
© 2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
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Contents
Models ................................................................................................... 121
Cases and Examples.............................................................................. 122
7
Broadband Unwired.................................................................125
The Last Mile Shall Be the First ............................................................ 126
What Is Access? ..................................................................................... 128
Communications Revolution: Broadband Wireless Access (BWA)........ 128
BWA: It’s Different ............................................................................ 129
BWA: Why the Hype? ........................................................................ 130
BWA Technologies ................................................................................. 130
Wireless Local Loop.......................................................................... 131
Wireless IP Local Loop ..................................................................... 131
Local Multi-Point Distribution System (LMDS)................................. 132
802.11x Wireless............................................................................... 133
802.15x Ultrawideband (UWB) Wireless Networks......................... 133
802.16x (WiMAX) Wireless Networks.............................................. 134
802.20 Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA)........................ 134
802.22 Wireless Regional Area Networks......................................... 134
Mesh Networks................................................................................. 135
Trends and Directions........................................................................... 135
Successes and Failures .......................................................................... 136
WiMAX without Wires .......................................................................... 138
Making Broadband Personal.................................................................. 140
One for Everyone.................................................................................. 141
The Way Ahead...................................................................................... 144
3G and Beyond...................................................................................... 145
8
Understanding the Technology...............................................149
How WiMAX Works............................................................................... 150
Designed to Succeed............................................................................. 151
WiMAX Base Station ......................................................................... 151
WiMAX Receiver............................................................................... 152
Backhaul............................................................................................ 153
Flavors of WiMAX.................................................................................. 153
Line-of-Sight ...................................................................................... 155
Non-Line-of-Sight............................................................................... 155
Types of WiMAX.................................................................................... 156
Fixed ................................................................................................. 156
Portable or Mobile............................................................................ 157
Evolution of WiMAX.............................................................................. 158
The Cutting Edge .................................................................................. 159
Dynamic Burst Mode TDMA MAC: Provides High Efficiency,
Bandwidth on Demand, and Scalability ........................................... 160
QoS: A Powerful WiMAX Advantage ................................................. 160
Improved User Connectivity ............................................................ 160
Link Adaptation: Provides High Reliability ....................................... 161
© 2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC