Advantages and disadvantages of WiMax

Advantages and Disadvantages of WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access)

Advantages of WiMAX Technology

WiMAX technology provides the following advantages:

• Long range access
• Symmetrical bandwidth over long range
• A single WiMAX station can serve hundreds of users
• It works on an unlicensed frequency spectrum

Disadvantages of WiMAX Technology

The disadvantages of WiMAX technology are:

• Spectral limitation
• Poor bandwidth when serving lots of clients
• High cost – both for installation and operation
• Unreliable service
• Weather conditions like rain can have a big impact on the service
• Big delay
• Line-of-sight is needed for longer distances
• Interference with other wireless signals
• It has a big power consumption
• Multiple frequencies are used for WiMAX deployment

The Overview of WiMAX Technology and its Usage

WiMAX Technology

WiMAX – Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access is a wireless technology. It supports transmission speeds up to 40 Mbps. With the update 2011, the maximum speeds are even up to 1 Gbps for fixed stations. WiMAX enables the last mile wireless broadband access and serves as an alternative for the fixed broadband technologies like cable, DSL and optical fiber.

IEEE 802.16 is a family of Broadband standards for Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks. Official name of the 802.16 family is Wireless MAN, but it is more known for under the name WiMAX.

If you are interested to find out more about the family of Wireless MAN standards, you could read my article 802.16 – Standard for Wireless MAN or WiMAX Network.

More about the other types of wireless technologies you could read on How Does Wireless Internet Work.

You could also find the name for WiMAX – WiFi on steroids. To check more about the WiFi read what is WiFi.

The Usage of WiMAX

Is the WiMAX technology the right choice for you? When you take in consideration disadvantages of WiMAX, but also advantages of this Wireless MAN technology, WiMAX is the right choice for the following cases:

• Offering broadband wireless internet access in the remote places without DSL, cable, fiber optic access.
• Enabling portable wireless broadband connection between cities and even countries.
• Wireless backhaul technology for 2G, 3G and 4G cellular networks.