Wireless operators worldwide are already taking advantage of WiFi Mesh to deliver true wireless broadband today.
Here are the top reasons you should take advantage of WiFi Mesh today:
* WiFi Mesh represents a major revenue opportunity and architectural shift for carriers, service providers, and cellular operators in terms of high-value, high-bandwidth services.
* WiFi Mesh networks are already deployed with proven and scalable high performance delivering mobile voice, video, and data applications extending hundreds of miles.
* WiFi Mesh is future proof. WiFi rates that exceed 100 Mbps will become available in 2008 with 802.11n, a legitimate alternative to wireline capabilities.
* WiMAX promises only 20 Mbps or less shared throughput over a large number of subscribers
* WiFi Mesh is already in use today for critical public safety, emergency services, and Department of Homeland Security applications.
* WiFi Mesh is capable of supporting high-speed transportation applications exceeding speeds of 180 Mph.
* There have been more than 20 million WiFi handsets and dual-mode smartphones sold worldwide in just the first quarter of 2007 compared to virtually no WiMax devices. Some analysts predict that the number of WiFi handsets and dual-mode phones will reach 100 million by year-end 2007 and the much anticipated iPhone is expected to accelerate the demand in mobile WiFi access.
By the time mobile WiMax even rolls out officially, operators will already have a large installed base of WiFi customers... Can you afford to be left behind?
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Don't Get Left Behind Waiting for Mobile WiMax
I've told a few people already that I see WiMax as a lot of 'hot air', and I DON'T mean literally. So it was good to see the following comparison between WiFi Mesh and WiMax from Strix Systemstoday:
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3 comments:
I think you miss the point. WiMax is not designed to compete with WiFi technology. Instead, think of WiMax as a means for delivering a backbone bandwidth service - for instance, use WiMax instead of ADSL as your backbone. Also, you are incorrect with WiMax's throughput bandwidth: The 802.16e protocol (WiMax) can deliver 70mbps in a 10km radius within the broadcaster. For urbanised centers, it is inconceivable that there will not be at least one WiMax transmitter per ever 2 km! This is because it is relatively cheap to install WiMax broadcasters. For a radius longer than 10km, the 802.16e protocol will deliver anything from 70mbps down to 10mbps. Do not make the mistake by comparing 802.16e to iBurst. iBurst is a propriatory protocol, WiMax is an IEEE protocol, and is superior to iBurst.
But still, as I mentioned before, WiFi operators should not be afraid of WiMax. What you should be more afraid of is the 4G technology. WiFi's problem (you will have to agree to this) is its range. 4G will solve the bandwidth capacity problem as well as the range problem.
hope this has been helpful
Thanks anon...
The article I quoted specifically referred to Mobile WiMax, not WiMax in general, which, as you quite rightly said, is not designed to compete with WiFi but is rather a backbone replacing ADSL.
According to Wikipedia, WiMax can deliver 70Mbps and 48km, but only individually. I.e. the further you are from the base station, the lower the speed.
Regarding 4G: Both iBurst and WiMax are 4G technologies (if Wikipedia's taxonomy is to be believed).
Since January 2006, iBurst is a standard (IEEE 802.20, HC-SDMA, ISO TC204 WG16)
Wi-Fi's short range is both a blessing and a curse. Shorter range means that many small operators can help increase competition. If it had very long range, we would all be swamped by Telkom Wi-Fi by now...
Hi Henk,
As distributor for Strix Systems in Europe it is interesting to see how mesh technology is gaining ground and developing all over the world. I was in SA for a pbx project near Plettenberg Bay in 2003 and at that time ADSL was rolled out in your country, a big step forward! How is the situation in your beautiful country now? I read about a 400 Million Rand tender in Cape Town for WiFi to be rolled out in and around Cape Town and used for your hosted soccer tournament in particular including VOIP, security etc. and curious which system is being tested at this moment and finally gonna be chosen.
Personally I have my doubts about the idea behind WiMax putting up another source of strong radio waves in the ether. Proven is mesh technology using multi-radio low powered nodes (for client and back haul) operating on both FREE frequencies in the 2,4 and 5 GHz band based on layer 2 for connecting to other switches.
About Strix OWS, IWS and EWS
The Strix Access/One OWS and IWS modular mesh products deliver the largest capacity (up to six radios and 768 users per node, three to six times the norm), highest throughput (five times the norm at 35 Mbps), and best scalability (users can add more radio boards or new technologies). For business and residential users, the Access/One EWS provides a high-performance backhaul Wi-Fi connection to Strix’s Access/One OWS and IWS, enabling an end-to-end wireless experience and seamless inside/outside roaming. An independent wireless mesh test, sponsored by Light Reading and completed in June 2006, found Strix’s OWS 2400-30 delivers the best throughput and capacity and the greatest scalability for voice applications and mobility/roaming. Strix networks scale to 10 or more wireless hops with near-zero throughput loss and latency, enabling customers to deliver real-time applications with a minimum of wired connections for a given area, which reduces CapEx and OpEx.
Looking forward to your comment.
Kind regards,
Alphonso F. Makovec
Alcadis Distribiteur bv
The Netherlands
amakovec@alcadis.nl
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