WiMAX, faces challenges from 802.20, according to a paper seen by the INQUIRER.
The paper, titled Deploying WiMAX Certified Broadband Wireless Access Systems, written by Cristian Patachia-Sultanoiu and published in the Journal of the Communications Network, examines not only the back end technology of WiMAX but also its relationship within the wider standards sphere.
WiMAX, IEEE 802.16e is designed for long range broadband access. But competition from 802.20 - nicknamed Mobile-Fi - could shatter the dreams of those backing WiMAX, according to the paper.Whilst the data rate and range is only half that of WiMAX, it is inherently more mobile. It has an astonishing latency of just 10ms - 500ms is standard for 3G communications - and can maintain integrity at as much as 250km/h, compared to just 100km/h for WiMAX. Since it uses more common spectrum - licensed bands up to 3.5GHz - it also offers global mobility, hand-off and roaming support.
Patachia-Sultanoiu goes on to say that he believes WiMAX will end up being the defining standard. Mobile operators, who are generally friendly to WiMAX, see 802.20 as a competing standard that could make their 3G licenses worth rather less than they paid for them. As with any standard, the ability to bring products to market is crucial - and with Intel pushing WiMAX hard, it’s difficult to imagine a situation where it won’t have its way.
| 802.16e | 802.20 | 3G |
| IP 802.16a mobility (more than 1Mbps) | IP roaming & handoff (more than 1Mbps) | Circuit-switched cell data (less than 1Mbps) |
| Extentions to MAC and PHY from 802.16a | New MAC and PHY with IP and adaptive antennas | W-CDMA & CDMA-2000 |
| Backward compatible with 802.16a | Optimized for full mobility | Evolving GSM or IS-41 |
| Between 2-6 GHz | Licensed Bands below 3.5 GHz | Licensed Bands below 2.7 GHz |
| Packet Architecture | Packet Architecture | Circuit Architecture |
| Low latency | Low latency | High latency |
There several hurtles 802.20 will have to overcome:
- It can only be used in licensed bands below 3.5GHz.
- It trails the 802.16e standards process by a couple of years
- Who needs 180 mph handoff?
- Mobilized 802.16e will be nationalized in Korea.
- Why should cellular companies undercut their 3G service?
A workable 802.20 standard might be weighed against the $100B investment in 3G spectrum by European mobile carriers, alone. If Nextel goes with Flarion, and T-Mobile follows, that could mean a proprietary system will be in place for at least 5 years. By then, 802.16e will be backward compatibile with 802.16 fixed services. Licensed or unlicensed. 802.20 won’t be ubiquitous. WiMax probably will.
WiMAX infrastructure revenues are projected to increase dramatically over the next few years, growing from $15 million in 2004 to $290 million in 2008 according to Research and Markets.
Related DailyWireless stories include; 802.20: Same O, Same O, Navini Jumps to WiMax, 802.16 Vrs 802.20, 4G Clouds in the United States, 4G War in Sydney, Navini’s Pitch, Dr. Xu’s HPi Love Fest, Supercomputing and 4G, Navin Unwires Douglas County, New Age Clouds, Nextel Scores MMDS and Palace Coop at 802.20. Flarion Alliance Grows, 4G Goes Ballistic, T-Mobile + Flarion, Flarion Does 450 MHz, Mobilizing WiMax, and WiMax World.
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