A family of IEEE standards for wireless broadband access (BWA). Approved in 2002, and also known as "WiMAX," 802.16 provides up to 300 Mbps of shared point-to-multipoint transmission in the 10 to 66 GHz frequency bands as far as 18 miles. The WiMAX Forum promotes the 802.16 standards using the OFDMA air interface below 11 GHz and provides interoperability certification. At frequencies below 11 GHz, signals can penetrate walls and other dense objects. See
Xohm,
WiMAX,
Wi-Fi,
WiBro and
802.11.
Last Mile and Networks
The 802.16 standard was designed to bring wireless broadband into buildings from an ISP or other carrier, offering an alternative to wired T1, cable and DSL lines in the last mile. It can also be used to provide high-speed connectivity between Wi-Fi networks across large campuses as well as create a "wireless metropolitan access network" (WMAN) throughout a city or suburb. The mobile version of WiMAX competes with LTE, the 4G cellular technology (see
IMT-Advanced).
802.16-2009 - Fixed and Mobile WiMAX 1
The 802.16-2009 standard includes previous 802.16-2004 fixed and 802.16e mobile versions, among others, and supports the WirelessMAN-SC air interface in the 10-66 GHz range. WirelessMAN-SC is not supported by WiMAX. The first fixed standard was 802.16-2001.
802.16e - Mobile WiMAX 1
The 802.16e standard was the first 802.16 mobile version. It allows people to communicate in the 2-6 GHz band while riding in cars and trains up to 75 mph. Voice over IP (VoIP) is also supported.
802.16m - Mobile WiMAX 2
Submitted as an IMT-Advanced standard, 802.16m increases the shared channel to a maximum of 300 Mbps and allows people to communicate while traveling in high-speed trains up to 200 mph. The ITU has designated both WiMAX 1 and WiMAX 2 as 4G technologies. See
IMT-Advanced.