What is WiMAX

WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) - is the commercial name for the international wireless broadband data transmission standard 802.16, developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).

The standard was adopted in January 2003, by the WiMAX Forum community, a non-profit organization including about two hundred leading telecommunication companies of the world. Tho goal of WiMAX Forum is facilitating the development of wireless equipment for broadband network access, quick development of networks around the world and 802.16 standard equipment certification.

WiMAX networks are based on the same principles as cellular networks. But unlike those, WiMAX central stations provide broadband communication in an area over 30 km with a capacity comparable to that of cable connection - up to 75 Mbit/sec.

What differs WiMAX from other radio technologies is its ability to work stably even with no direct line of sight of the central station, using a reflected signal. This unique characteristic allows maintaining a stable high-speed channel within urban environment.

Another important factor is the efficient use of frequency resource. WiMAX is 1.5 times better than its competitors in this criterion. WiMAX makes possible simultaneous uninterrupted work of a larger number of users.

The WiMAX standard uses Triple DES (128 bit key) or RSA (1024 bit key) encryption algorithm, being highly resistant to hack attempts and providing automatic radiating power management.

WiMAX is based on a planning algorithm under which the customer receives his/her own temporary slot upon addressing the central station, which is preserved with the customer, even if there was no data exchange. This allows securing the channel capacity through automatic management of the QoS (Quality of Service).

WiMAX is not just a high-speed Internet access technology. It allows transmitting different data, including voice, video, etc., therefore providing an opportunity to set up corporate network, high-quality video translation and IP-telephony.

The WiMAX technology provides a solution to one of the biggest Internet access problems today - the "last mile" problem. Ukraine currently has domestic communication channels of sufficient capacity, and virtually all towns have Internet service providers, but the connection between them and the end users is still done with the help of dial-up or dedicated lines. This results in low data exchange rate, lack of connection reliability, and limited connection possibilities.

Many problems plague the customers that lease offices with redundant infrastructure, which provides no physical possibility of creating high-capacity channels. Organisation of in-house cable lines is often impossible due to objective limitations and economically unsound.

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