You have heard the hype, you know it is fast, you may even know what it is by now. WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is part of that 4G buzz floating around, and wouldn’t you know it, it has it’s own news sites. If you are here, you probably already have an idea of what WiMAX is, what it does, and what it aims to do in the future. This post, is to explain a little more in depth what WiMAX is and the technology behind. I am trying to take a complex technology and explain it in simple terms, so hang tight.

First off, many people assume because Sprint is going with WiMAX for 4G it is part of the CDMA upgrade path. This is not true, WiMAX, like it’s brother 4G technologies LTE and UMB uses the OFDMA air interface. OFDMA is a completely different, and independent technology. Furthermore, WiMAX also operates in different frequencies than CDMA, and the technology is meant to replace, not upgrade, Sprint’s CDMA network. WiMAX is capable of an AIPN, or All IP Network. This means voice will be Voice Over IP(VoIP). Data, well it will be data, go figure.

Another common misconception about WiMAX is that it is ‘WiFi on steroids’. While WiMAX is often compared to WiFi, it is not WiFi, and shares no technological similarities with it. Both are separate IEEE standards, with their own interest groups and goals.

Now that we have the myths cleared up, lets look at how it works. Get a little technical. It is important to understand that WiMAX is not a cellular network. For the purposes Sprint will use it for, it can be considered as one. However, this is mobile WiMAX. Fixed WiMAX is different, and is often used as ‘last mile’ patches by ISPs to deliver broadband to customers. That said, WiMAX will be deployed in much the same way as current cellular networks.

Next, on to deployment. WiMAX, in America, will be deployed on BRS 2500MHz/2600MHz spectrum. While much less talked about, 2300MHz has been deemed suitable for WiMAX as well. Nokia and Motorola will be the main provider of WiMAX base station equipment. WiMAX radios have special needs. They need special enclosures, and operate safely at -20 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. For Sprint, their Nextel cell sites provide the best conditions, with enclosures necessary for the iDEN equipment. People in areas where WiMAX is being deployed have noticed panels being traded out on iDEN cell sites. WiMAX antennas will be MIMO(Multiple In, Multiple Out), which will offer optimum speeds. Under this scheme, WiMAX is capable of throughput speeds over 70mbps. WiMAX is very efficient, when it comes to spectral efficiency, it is one of the best. This means more WiMAX on less spectrum, which allows greater speed and more capacity.

Initial offerings of WiMAX will be in the form of data oriented devices. PC cards, and laptops. Recently, the Nokia N810 with WiMAX was introduced. As more devices become available, you will be hearing much more about WiMAX. WiMAX is not going to be limited only to these devices though. Many devices such as cameras, home appliances and game consoles, really, anything mobile, will be able to benefit from WiMAX. It will not be offered with subsidized devices only like current cellular and broadband offerings. Sprint, and other WiMAX operators, will license use of their network right to device manufacturers.

This sounds almost too good to be true. Mobile broadband, efficient technology, cool devices, this technology must be far away, right? Actually, is much closer than you think. Sprint has already been extensively testing the technology, and is scheduled to have WiMAX available to 100 million people by the end of the year. While they are not on track for that date, they are no doubt chugging along. It is only a matter of time.

WiMAX truly will revolutionize the face of the mobile industry. As the wait becomes ever shorter, there is only one place to go to keep track of the WiMAX revolution, and you have found it.