WiMAX Introduction While wireless connectivity options have expanded rapidly in recent years, wireless network access is available

now only in limited physical areas. Internet and intranet users need broadband access that extends over longer distances to more locations. The industry's solution is the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) standard, developed to create certified standards-based products from a wide range of vendors. WiMAX is a standards-based wireless technology that provides high-throughput broadband connections over long distances. WiMAX can be used for a number of applications, including "last mile" broadband connections, hotspot and cellular backhaul, and high-speed enterprise connectivity for businesses. An implementation of the IEEE 802.16 standard, WiMAX provides metropolitan area network connectivity at speeds of up to 75 Mb/sec. WiMAX systems can be used to transmit signal as far as 30 miles. However, on the average a WiMAX base-station installation will likely cover between three to five miles. The WiMAX Forum* (the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access Forum) is a non-profit corporation formed by equipment and component suppliers, including Intel Corporation, to promote the adoption of IEEE 802.16 compliant equipment by operators of broadband wireless access systems. The organization is working to facilitate the deployment of broadband wireless networks based on the IEEE 802.16 standard by helping to ensure the compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless access equipment. WiMAX standards The IEEE 802.16 Air Interface Standard is truly a state-of-the-art specification for fixed broadband wireless access systems employing a point-to-multipoint (PMP) architecture. The initial version was developed with the goal of meeting the requirements of a vast array of deployment scenarios for BWA systems operating between 10 and 66 GHz. As a result, only a subset of the functionality is needed for typical deployments directed at specific markets. A revision to the base IEEE 802.16 standard targeting sub 11 GHz is near completion with a publishing target date of July 2004. This revision will include the amendments from Task Group c, Task Group a, and Task Group d. The IEEE process stops short of providing conformance standards and test specifications. In order to ensure interoperability between vendors equipment, the WiMAX technical working groups have completed the work for 10 to 66 GHz and has started work for the sub 11 GHz part of the standard. The working groups develop a set of system profiles, Protocol Implementation Conformance Statement Proforma, Test Suite Structure & Test Purposes, and Abstract Test Suite specifications for 10 to 66 GHz and sub 11 GHz, all according to the ISO/IEC 9464 series (equivalent to ITU-T x.290 series) of conformance testing standards. The IEEE 802.16 Working Group has developed point-to-multipoint broadband wireless access standard for systems in the frequency ranges 10-66 GHz and sub 11 GHz. The standard covers both the Media Access Control (MAC) and the physical (PHY) layers. The MAC was designed specifically for the PMP wireless access environment. It

supports higher layer or transport protocols such as ATM, Ethernet or Internet Protocol (IP), and is designed to easily accommodate future protocols that have not yet been developed. The MAC is designed for very high bit rates (up to 268 mbps each way) of the truly broadband physical layer, while delivering ATM compatible Quality of Service (QoS); UGS, rtPS, nrtPS, and Best Effort. The frame structure allows terminals to be dynamically assigned uplink and downlink burst profiles according to their link conditions. This allows a trade-off between capacity and robustness in real-time, and provides roughly a two times increase in capacity on average when compared to non-adaptive systems, while maintaining appropriate link availability. Application The WiMAX standard enables system vendors to create many different types of WiMAX-based products, including various configurations of base stations and customer premise equipment (CPE). WiMAX supports a variety of wireless broadband connections: High-bandwidth metropolitan-area networks (MANs) to home and small-business users, replacing DSL and cable modems; Backhaul networks for cellular base stations, bypassing the public switched telephone network; Backhaul connections to the Internet for WiFi hotspots. Where they exist today, these applications use expensive proprietary methods for broadband wireless access. Using interoperability-tested WiMAX silicon solutions based on the IEEE 802.16d standard can dramatically reduce this expense. Leaders in semiconductor technology, such as Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc., will deliver the expanded broadband wireless capability by working in close partnership with infrastructure and equipment manufacturers. The WiMAX Forum promotes deployment of broadband wireless access networks by using a global standard and certifying interoperability of products and technologies. The Forum was founded in 2002 and now has more than 150 members, including Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc. Benefits to Operators By choosing interoperable, standards-based equipment, wireless operators and carriers will see new benefits in deploying their wireless systems, such as: Economies of scale enabled by the standard to lower equipment costs Operators are not locked in to a single vendor, because base stations will interoperate with subscriber stations from different manufacturers. Ultimately, operators will benefit from lower-cost and higher-performance equipment, as equipment manufacturers rapidly create product innovations based on a common, standards-based platform.

WiMAX Technology and Deployment for Last-Mile Wireless Broadband and Backhaul Applications Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc. August 2004 Contents Introduction Wide-ranging wireless broadband WiMAX, 802.16 and international interoperability QoSa powerful WiMAX advantage Base and subscriber stations Standard issues: interoperability and upgrades The deployment outlook For more information