4G Technologies: Wimax And LTE
Introduction
Today one can access the Internet through three basically different options: Broadband access which uses a DSL or cable modem at home or a T1 or a T3 line in the office. Next, WiFi access where one sets up a WiFi router to surf the Web or with your laptop at home or WiFi hot spots those are available anywhere in restaurants, hotels and so on. Lastly, Dial-up access used in absence of broadband access. Broadband access is expensive and isn’t available everywhere while WiFi access coverage is sparse since hot spots are few.
WiMAX
WiMAX provides high speed of broadband service, Wireless rather than wired access, hence less expensive than cable or DSL and easily extendable, and broad coverage like the cell phone network instead of small WiFi hotspots (Ergen, 2009). WiMAX is short for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access also IEEE 802.16, is an Internet Protocol based (IP based) wireless broadband access technology that bid performance comparable to 802.11 or Wi-Fi networks through cellular networks’ quality of service (QoS) and coverage. WiMAX can either be fixed wireless or mobile wireless intended for wireless Metropolitan Area Networks by providing broadband wireless access (BWA) of up to 30 miles or 50km for fixed stations and 3 – 10 miles for mobile stations (Walrand & Parekh, 2010).
LTE
LTE simply means Long Term Evolution is a standard whose part is the System Architecture Evolution, an even IP-based network architecture intended to substitute the GPRS Core Network and ensure support for, and mobility betweennon-3GPP systems, like GPRS and WiMAX (Rumney, 2009). LTE is a 4G technology making possible rigid to moveable transfer of Internet application like Voice over IP (VoIP), video streaming, music downloading, mobile TV and LTE networks that will present the ability to sustain an outburst in connectivity demand.
Advantages: WiMAX
WiMAX enables the adoption of advanced radio features in a uniform fashion and reduce costs for all radios made by companies in WiMAX Forum. WiMAX is deployed as a fixed wireless technology to provide basic internet connectivity to residential and business users, eliminating fiber or DSL (Walrand & Parekh, 2010). Fixed wireless technology can provide backhaul connectivity for Wi-Fi hotspots and other IP enabled devices such as VoIP phones and video surveillance cameras. Developed markets, use WiMAX as a mobile wireless technology to provide 4G advantage in handsets and mobile devices.
Advantages: LTE
LTE has high throughput, low latency, plug and play, an improved end-user experience and a simple architecture resulting in low operating costs. LTE will also support faultless transitory to cell towers with older network know-how such as GSM, cdmaOne, UMTS, and CDMA2000. LTE can permit backward well-matching with both 2G and 3G networks (Rumney, 2009)
Weaknesses: WiMAX
The limitations to large deployments in these bands include network ownership, lack of coverage, device availability and competition with Wi-Fi in some cases (Walrand & Parekh, 2010).
Weaknesses: LTE
Very expensive and is only suitable for large application like in companies.
WiMAX backers include Intel, Alvarion, Beceem, GCT, Motorola, Samsung, Sequans and ZTE while LTE backers are Alcatel, Ericsson, and qualcomm. Experts are divided on which side the 3G rollouts will ride between both the WiMAX an LTE. Some say that LTE will prevail since it is fast catching up with the WiMAX having just been introduced late 2010 and it part of GSM technology. Other experts argue that the WiMAX will prevail since it’s the older of the two and has two years of equipment availability and testing.
Ergen M. (2009). Mobile Broadband: Including WiMAX and LTE. Springer Publishers. Berkley: CA.
Rumney M. (2009).LTE and the Evolution to 4G Wireless: Design and Measurement Challenges. Agilent technologies. Padstow: Cornwall.
Tang S., Muller P., & Sharif H. (2010).WiMAX Security and Quality of Service: An End-to-End Perspective. John Willey & Sons Ltd. West Sussex: UK.
Walrand J. & Parekh S. (2010). Communication networks: a concise introduction. Morgan & Claypool Publishers. California: Berkley.
The main advantages with LTE are high throughput, low latency, plug and play, FDD and TDD in the same platform, an improved end-user experience and a simple architecture resulting in low operating costs. LTE will also support seamless passing to cell towers with older network technology such as GSM, cdmaOne, UMTS, and CDMA2000. The next step for LTE evolution is LTE Advanced and is currently being standardized in 3GPP Release 10.[9]
WiMAX has the potential to do to broadband Internet access what cell phones have done to phone access. In the same way that many people have given up their “land lines” in favor of cell phones, WiMAX could replace cable and DSL services, providing universal Internet access just about anywhere you go. WiMAX will also be as painless as WiFi — turning your computer on will automatically connect you to the closest available WiMAX antenna.
WiMAX or IEEE 802.16
WiMAX simply means Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. This is an Internet Protocol based (IP based) wireless broadband access technology that provides performance similar to 802.11 or Wi-Fi networks with the coverage and quality of service (QoS) of cellular networks. In digital communications, WiMAX is intended for wireless Metropolitan Area Networks and can provide broadband wireless access (BWA) of up to 30 miles or 50km for fixed stations and 3 – 10 miles for mobile stations.
Conversely, Wi-Fi-802.11 is meant for wireless local area network standard and is limited to only 100 – 300 feet or 30 to 100 m.With WiMAX, there is less interference and WiFi-like data rates are easily supported. Its operation on both licensed and non-licensed frequencies provides regulated environments a viable economic model for wireless carriers. WiMAX is a standards initiative intended to ensure interoperability of broadband wireless radios for consumer use from vendor to vendor.
LTE
This simply means Long Term Evolution (LTE) a standard describing parallel technology to wimax that is under development by vendors.
Strengths of WiMAX
Major strength is that WiMAX enable the adoption of advanced radio features in a uniform fashion and reduce costs for all of the radios made by companies, who are part of the WiMAX Forum™ – a standards body formed to ensure interoperability via testing.As the first, all IP based 4G wireless technology, the applications are endless. In emerging markets and rural areas, WiMax is being deployed as a fixed wireless technology to provide basic internet connectivity to residential and business users, without the cost and difficulty of deploying fiber or DSL.
In this fixed capacity, the technology can provide backhaul connectivity for Wi-Fi hotspots and other IP enabled devices such as VoIP phones and video surveillance cameras. In more developed markets, WiMAX is being used as a mobile wireless technology by large carriers to provide a first-to-market 4G advantage in handsets and other mobile devices.
WiMax and 4G technologies are also being utilized by a new breed of non-traditional operators including municipalities, local & state governments, utilities, enterprise customers and other verticals. Interest is being driving by new wireless applications including SmartGrids, remote education, tele-medicine, connectivity for M2M (machine-to-machine) devices, digital signage, ITS (intelligent transportation systems), and much more.
Weaknesses of wimax
The drawbacks to large deployments, however, in these bands include network ownership, lack of coverage, device availability and competition with Wi-Fi in some cases
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