Would you not fall from your chair when you have just discovered that there is a technology that enables wireless network available within 30-mile radius? That covers the
whole city! This remarkable technology actually provides broadband access more efficient than
WiFi. Maybe, I'm
just exaggerating the reaction but definitely not the information. This
is already lurking
everywhere in the media, but limited only to first world countries or
those that are not so poor countries with up-to-date information
technology.
WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) or WirelessMAN (Metropolitan Area Network)is gaining more applause these days, especially among the wireless technology savvy. It is called "WiFi on Steroids" because of its comparable capacity to WiFi in "bulk." Well, WiMax is better only in terms of efficiency and not in the price yet. An IT specialist said that comparing WiMax and WiFi is like comparing apples with oranges. They are two different things but we can't blame people in comparing them like twins because of their textual and distinctive working similarities: they are both wireless broadband technologies. WiMax goes by the IEEE name 802.16 while WiFi is 802.11, entirely two different technologies. So, differences in their capacity is not surprising. What's surprising is that WiMax surpasses WiFi in distance, speed and number of users. We thought that WiFi is the best end of IT product today till times to come but it is not. Time is running, and so is the technology keeps on being updated.
The existence of smart people would just be a myth if no one looks at the coin on both sides--the advantages and disadvantages of a matter. WiMax blankets a radius of 30 miles or 50 km. It is the supposition. However on the actual test, it only covers a range of 10 miles. Still, it outdistances WiFi by miles that gives access only to users within the 30 meter radius. Under optimal conditions, WiFi can transmit up to 54 mbps, far lesser than WiMax's more than 70 mbps. Unlike WiFi where users on the wireless hotspot are competing for the broadband access, WiMax is built with algorithm that allocates each user with standard broadband width to limit its users for efficient internet connection speed. What does it do to users who are not able to make it on the cut-off? WiMax simply will automatically transfer them to another WiMax tower.
As of now, WiMax is facing the issues on its financial aspects. Who's gonna pay for its installation? Will it be the residents or the government? It is suggested that expenses for WiMax will be charged to the taxes from the people. That would be ideal but I'm sure such will face another issues. If this be implemented, there will be new opportunities for big-bellied crocodiles, assuming positions in various government offices, to gorge themselves with the nation's wealth. We can't do something about this unchanging issue because politics has been difficult and nasty thing to deal with.
Well, a lot of people are still existing to assume the role of opposing any new changes of this world. Some said WiFi is still cheaper than WiMax. They miss to see the fact that if we are going
to look at a wider scope, WiFi can cover a whole city only when used
with series of repeaters.
Buying more repeaters is costly, as costly as setting up a WiMax
tower for the whole city. It's even more practical to opt for WiMax
because it can reach remote areas that WiFi (with series of repeaters)
cannot. WiMax is costly because of the monopoly of its provider. This
is true to all cases at the starting phase of any product or service. Time will come
that the competition for WiMax providers will take place and that will make the technology cheaper. As always been said, only time can make any new technological inventions affordable and globally available. And sooner, WiMax will be the future standard of wireless technology.
