WiMAX

IEEE 802.16-2004 and IEEE 802.16e-2005

News

wimaxTechnology Overview

WiMAX is the first standard that is based on OFDM/OFDMA and MIMO technologies. This IEEE non-3G standardization approach gives many new manufacturers and operators the opportunity to enter the cellular market. With its extensive IP capabilities, WiMAX is technically very competitive with today’s cellular systems. The decision from the ITU to open the 3G TDD spectrum for WiMAX has also solved the spectrum problems.

Rohde & Schwarz supports WiMAX with the broadest of product portfolios providing unique solutions for MIMO and production testing. Moreover, as one of the two companies selected to develop a radio conformance tester for mobile WiMAX, Rohde & Schwarz is once again demonstrating its commitment to be the leading supplier for certification test equipment for wireless communications.

Deployment Scenario

WiMAX enables mobile Internet. By implementing WiMAX, today’s broadband technologies such as WLAN have taken the step to mobility. The high IP support provided by WiMAX is also ideally suited for the Internet. But also QoS is implemented so that VoiP is enabled. With this capability, WiMAX has enhanced its capabilities to a cellular system such as 3GPP or 3GPP2.

Deployment is mainly foreseen in licensed bands around the world. Thus, operators are involved. The most important deployments are in the 2.3 GHz, 2.5 GHz, and 3.5 GHz bands (profiles 1A, 3A, and 5) as well as in the ITU TDD spectrum (1.9 GHz and 2 GHz).

Key Parameters

WiMAX IEEE 802.16e-2005 and IEEE 802.16-2004
Frequency Range Show / Hide
Covers
2 GHz - 11 GHz
Targeted
1.9 GHz
(3GPP TDD)
2 GHz
(3GPP TDD)
2.3 GHz
(Profile 1A)
2.5 GHz
(Profile 3A)
3.4 GHz
(Profile 5)
Covers
10 GHz - 66 GHz
(SC)
Modulation BPSK, QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, SC
Multiple Access SOFDMA (128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048),OFDM 256, SC
Duplex (Uplink/Downlink) TDD (/FDD)
Channel Bandwidth 5 MHz, 10 MHz
in accordance with local radio regulations
(1.25 MHz - 28 MHz)
Number of Channels in accordance with local radio regulations
Peak Data Rate 114 Mbit/s (DL, 20MHz, 2x2 MIMO, TDD) (16e)

Standardization

WiMAX has two important standards: IEEE 802.16e-2005 for mobile WiMAX and IEEE 802.16-2004 for fixed WiMAX. Both standards have been released. A new standard, IEEE 802.16m, is being developed for higher bandwidths.

The conformance test specifications are developed by the WiMAX Forum, of which Rohde & Schwarz has been an active member since 2004. The conformance specification for fixed WiMAX has been released. The conformance test specification for mobile WiMAX is split into two waves. Wave 1 is exclusively SISO and was released at the beginning of 2007. Wave 2 is MIMO and was released in August 2007.