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WiMax May Extend Fast, Wireless Internet Access into Rural Areas

Posted on: Sunday, 13 June 2004, 06:00 CDT

Jun. 13--Just when you thought you were getting the hang of trendy tech terms such as Wi-Fi, along comes the next big thing in wireless broadband with an equally catchy name.

The new technology is called WiMax and has the capability of broadcasting a signal within a 30-mile range. That dwarfs the range of Wi-Fi, or wireless local area networking, which allows mobile device users to surf the Internet wirelessly and share computer files within several hundred feet of an access point.

WiMax probably won't be widely available for another two years, while the standard receives final certification and companies roll out and test the equipment. But it could be a boon to rural areas that don't have high-speed Internet access.

"It is a serious contender as a broadband alternative," said Roberta Wiggins, an analyst with research firm The Yankee Group.

Experts say WiMax will not replace Wi-Fi, which is more suited for short-distance, indoor applications such as the hot spots found in cafes and airports. Rather, WiMax is expected to be an extender of broadband networks and a complementary service to Wi-Fi.

The two primary ways of getting a high-speed Internet connection, DSL and cable modem, are still concentrated in the larger cities, bypassing wide swaths of rural areas. Moreover, some businesses can't get cable modem service. WiMax could be a wireless last mile connector to DSL and cable networks. That would give rural areas access to more advanced services without the time and investment required to build out existing networks.

"It's becoming increasingly clear that this platform -- could revolutionize the wireless last mile," wrote Jason Meyers, editor of telecommunications industry magazine Telephony, in a piece last month.

WiMax will work in tandem with Wi-Fi in some places. It will wirelessly extend broadband systems to homes and offices that have Wi-Fi hot spots set up. It could also link Wi-Fi hot spots.

Wi-Fi and WiMax both use radio waves to broadcast their signal through the air. Wi-Fi depends on access points, or hot spots, to connect the signal to devices such as laptop computers and personal digital assistants. WiMax will use subscriber stations that will be similar to satellite dishes, according to the industry group WiMax Forum. As the technology develops, other types of equipment will be used to broadcast the signal, including indoor modems similar to those used for cable connections.

Like Wi-Fi, WiMax will operate in several different frequencies. The standards are: 802.16a, 802.16RevD and 802.16e. The "a" standard will be used for fixed wireless connectivity. The RevD standard is an enhanced version of "a" that can be used for indoor applications. The "e" standard will be used in mobile applications.

The "a" standard has been ratified by the IEEE, the governing electrical industry body. The RevD standard and the "e" standard, which will be crucial for using WiMax in portable devices, have not been approved by the IEEE yet.

The current success of Wi-Fi should help establish a market for WiMax. Research firm Gartner predicts all laptop computers will come equipped with Wi-Fi by the end of 2005.

WiMax has some advantages over Wi-Fi. Whereas Wi-Fi works best when there is a clear line of sight between the device and the access point, WiMax's signal will not be broken by trees or other physical obstacles.

The technology could blanket an area such as a college campus with wireless connectivity. Some small towns in Europe are already testing a trial version, and TowerStream Corp. of Rhode Island is providing WiMax service to 600 businesses in Chicago, New York and Boston. In Chicago, TowerStream installed antennas on top of the Aon Center, where it beams its signal to customers.

The excitement over WiMax is building. Yet, the technology is anything but a proven commodity.

"So far, the specifications of WiMax are still on paper, as there is no commercial product certified by the Forum," said an except from a March report compiled by the consulting firms BWCS and Senza Fili. "There is also the possibility that real-life performance does not meet the expectations, especially with regard to coverage range."

WiMax will compete with cellular networks for the transport of wireless data. And the cellular networks have several advantages. Cellular users don't need to be near a cell phone tower to get service. Plus, people can use the technology while on the go in a car. By contrast, WiMax's mobile standard has not been ratified yet.

However, installing a cellular tower is a lot more expensive than setting up a WiMax zone, said Wiggins of The Yankee Group.

Agere Systems, a Wi-Fi pioneer, is weighing its options and has not made a decision whether it will jump into the WiMax fray. Agere of Hanover Township, Lehigh County, makes chips for wireless networking equipment.

"It fills a great niche," said Frans Frielink, a director of business development at Agere.

He added, "We are looking to see if there is enough opportunity." Frielink declined to say when Agere might make a decision but he said the company's technological expertise in Wi-Fi would give it a leg up in WiMax.

Intel, the world's largest chipmaker, is interested in WiMax. Intel sells the Centrino Wi-Fi chip that is used in many laptop computers. Its ubiquitous ad campaign for the Centrino is widely credited with popularizing Wi-Fi.

Experts say Intel's support could influence smaller vendors to take a chance. "It certainly gives it some credibility," Wiggins said of Intel's support.

The WiMax Forum expects WiMAX technology to be incorporated in notebook computers and PDAs in 2006 or 2007. Some industry watchers say that a more realistic time frame is late 2007 or even 2008.

Despite obstacles, WiMax technology cements the potential of wireless computing. Companies everywhere and in every field need a fast connection to the Internet. They also need to share and move data easily. Wireless connections can offer those possibilities.

Frielink, who is based in Agere's Holland office, said even farmers now rely on the Internet to trade crops and compare grain prices. He said many European governments are pushing for the adoption of WiMax so more people have access to a high-speed connection to the Internet.

"Being connected to the Internet is a lifeline," Frielink said.

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