What is WIMAX ?

       WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), is an IP based that provide a common  framework for wireless connectivity in fixed, portable, and mobile environments.

       WiMAX is a wireless digital communications system, also known as IEEE 802.16, that is intended for wireless "metropolitan area networks" or MAN. WiMAX can provide broadband wireless access (BWA) up to 30 miles (50 km) for fixed stations, and 3 - 10 miles (5 - 15 km) for mobile stations. In contrast, the WiFi/802.11 wireless local area network standard is limited in most cases to only 100 - 300 feet (30 - 100m) which a lot less than WiMAX.

A WiMAX deployment will essentially have two hardware components :

1) A WiMAX tower;  The tower is not unlike a cell tower, but can provide coverage to an estimated 30-mile radius. The tower connects to the Internet using a high-bandwidth wireline connection or it provide a wireless backhaul to other WiMAX WiMAX towers with LOS (line of sight) microwave links.
2) A WiMAX receiver; The receiver can be anything from a large building-mounted antenna to a small appliance, a laptop card, or even a built-in chip, like the WiFi receivers in PCs and laptops today.
 

The bandwidth and reach of WiMAX make it suitable for the following potential applications:

• Connecting WiFi-hotspots with each other and to other parts of the Internet.
• Providing a wireless alternative to cable and DSL for last mile (last km) broadband access.
• Providing high-speed mobile data and telecommunications services (4G).
• Providing a diverse source of Internet connectivity as part of a business continuity plan. That is, if a business has a fixed and a wireless internet connection they are unlikely to be affected by the same service outage.
• Providing Nomadic connectivity.