Overview of WiMAX

WiMAX is the most promising new technology for broadband wireless access to IP services. Fundamentals of WiMAX is the first comprehensive guide to WiMAX — its technical foundations, features, and performance. In this book, three leading wireless experts systematically cut through the hype surrounding WiMAX and illuminate the realities.

This chapter provides a concise technical overview of the emerging WiMAX solution for broadband wireless, beginning with a summary of the activities of the IEEE 802.16 group — the group that developed the wireless metropolitan area networking (WMAN) standards on which WiMAX is based. Topics covered include the salient features of WiMAX, its physical and MAC-layer characteristics, and service aspects.