Impact of Wireless (Wi-Fi, WiMAX) on 3G and Next Generation — An Initial Assessment

Abstract

The mobile infrastructure market is the second largest wireless communications market and arguably the most challenging. Rapid technology change (2.0/2.5G and 3G) and slow revenue growth turning to declining revenues, have created a difficult environment for companies competing in this market. In contrast, WiFi Wireless LAN (802.11x) is a fast emerging, widely deployed technology. Recently, WiMAX, a standardsbased (802.16x) technology, has emerged as an alternative to cable and DSL in delivering last-mile wireless broadband access. WiMAX Forum-certified systems will provide fixed, nomadic, portable, and, eventually, mobile wireless broadband connectivity without direct line-of-sight with a base station. Are 3G, Wi-Fi and WiMAX competing technologies? Can they co-exist? Which technology is more costeffective? Will a convergence take place in the future? This paper takes a closer look at each of these technologies and compares market potentials, deployment costs, potential applications and areas of competitive threat, co-existence, and potential convergence. A summary timeline is presented to compare these three technologies and their impact on key deployments. The paper concludes with examples of efforts taken byoperators to deliver what is perceived to be the best, most cost effective solution to customers.

W2BC: A Proposal for a Converged Baseband Implementation of WiMax and WiFi Transceivers

“…The focal point of this paper is to investigate the possibilities of combining different wireless standards, focusing on WiMax and WiFi for the implementation and testing. The commercial importance and integration of 802.11 and 802.16 into one WiMax/ WiFi/module has also been discussed extensively in the following publications [2], [3], [4], and [5] all of which propose approaches for the realization of an internetworking between these two standards, as well as with cellular technologies for 3.5G services.…”

WiFi/WiMAX Seamless Convergence with Adaptive Vertical Handover for Continuity of Internet Access

“…Both are open IEEE wireless standards built from the ground up for Internet Protocol (IP)-based applications and services. IEEE 802.11 has accelerated the network deployment for providing high transmission rate in limited geographical coverage, while IEEE 802.16 offers more flexibility while maintaining the technology data rate and transmission range [3]. The limited coverage range of WiFi makes it difficult to meet the future ubiquitous networks need while IEEE 802.16 can provide the high speed Internet access in a wide area.…”