Wimax Or 3g: Which Is Better?

[Arun 795]

Business Standard

Rajesh S Kurup / Mumbai September 4, 2008, 1:45 IST

With the Department of Telecommunications gearing up for simultaneous release of 3G and WiMax spectrum, analysts expect the two emerging wireless technologies to battle it out for supremacy.

WiMax or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access is a telecom technology that enables wireless transmission of data. The technology is available as IEEE 802.16D (fixed) and IEEE 802.16E (mobile). It offers downloads of up to 70 Mbps as compared to the 15 Mbps that 3G provides. Mobile WiMax offers download speeds of around 20 Mbps.

In India, companies like Tata Communications Internet Services, Intel, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Communications are the proponents of WiMax. Most of the companies have had beta-runs of the technology.

According to a top official with a service provider, telecom service providers are in various stages of WiMax implementation. Some companies have commercially launched fixed WiMax services in certain cities.

Prateek Pashine, CEO, Tata Communications Internet Services, says: “WiMax is a new technology. In India, it is being adopted even as it is simultaneously being implemented in advanced countries like the US, Japan and Korea.”

While opponents of WiMax say currently it cannot be used for mobile applications, the first mobile WiMax network was introduced in Italy this July. “Around the world, WiMax is predominantly used for fixed services, but it is moving over to mobile,” notes Pashine.

Another reason for the industry pinning its hopes on WiMax is its ability to increase the broadband penetration.

Braham Singh, CEO of wireless broadband service provider, YouSnapper, says: “WiMax makes huge sense for companies as it enables them to provide cheaper mobile internet and broadband services, in turn, increasing the internet penetration.

However, this will adversely impact services like GPRS and e-mail on mobile as users might move over to WiMax-enabled devices for data, even though they might stick with 3G or 2G spectrum for voice.”

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has set a target of 20 million broadband connections by 2010 from the current 4.3 million. The industry expects WiMax to bridge the gap. Manesh Patel, partner (Risk Advisory Services), Ernst & Young said service providers would mainly use the technology for gaining traction with the customers, as providing the last mile over the conventional digital subscriber lines would be time-consuming and costly.

The technology would be mainly adopted by internet service providers, while some mobile companies were also expected to bid for the spectrum, he added.

Operators will have to use 3G spectrum to revive voice services that are being choked by a dearth of 2G spectrum, Patel added. The WiMax customer premise equipment (CPE) is priced at Rs 5,000-10,000, while the CPEs for 3G would be cost Rs 10,000 and above. The industry will know the winner in the next six months, when the spectrum allocation is complete.

[Arun 795]

Will WiMax score over 3G mobile service?

The Hindu - Thursday, Sep 18, 2008

The roll out of 3G is expected to shower in high speed data and advanced digital video streaming

Many operators have already commissioned and some are doing field trials of WiMax services

Any mobile user will be thrilled with joy if he gets real cinema clippings of the song in the mobile screen instead of ring back tone, or the actual cricket match itself displayed when dialled for commentary.

The roll out of 3G, third generation cellular mobile service, by the mobile network operators in early 2009 is expected to shower in such value added services with lot of scope for high speed data and advanced digital video streaming.

Paradigm shift to a new mobile environment facilitating Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) is most welcome by the consumers from the corporate houses and industry people in general, as the dream of any mobile customer ‘to get connected any time any where’ is materializing.

As the the allocation of spectrum for 3G operations has been sorted out, the existing players and new entrants in the field are very enthusiastic on the prospects of a new wireless environment.

Operations by mobile operators with an enhanced band width will now allow enriched services like real-time video casting of events like parties, functions or places of visit over mobile. This will also improve the scope of DVBH-Digital Video Broadcasting on Handheld, by public broadcasters. The Indian growth phenomenon of mobile network is different from the global scenario.

Out of 9 million new mobile users added every month at least 80 per cent are getting it purely for the voice calls and monthly free SMS.

Despite all ifs and buts, the positive thinking is that while customers are going to enjoy high end, high quality entertainment linked services of different varieties on their mobile, service providers are expecting to fill their kitty with many more plans for the new tariff regime.

More applications

Analysts say that the real competitor to 3G is none other than another emerging technology called WiMax (World wide Operability of Microwave Access). WiMax is a standard based (IEEE 802.16e) technology providing high speed data and voice services by networks covering long distances and wide ranges.

WiMax can be used for a number of applications including last mile Broadband services, hotspots, mobile, fixed mobile, cellular backhaul and high speed enterprise connectivity.

Wide reach

WiMax is designed to provide E1 level bandwidth to business and equivalent of Cable and DSL access for home users.

This will provide carrier-class solutions to support thousands of users not only in urban areas but also in rural unreached pockets by deploying a single base station for a radial distance of 35-40 kilometres.

This is going to take over areas which are poorly connected by wired infrastructure.

Many operators have already commissioned and some are doing field trials of WiMax services in different cities in India.

Industry majors like Alcatel, Micrsoft, Intel have supplied technical knowhow and implementation strategy to many Indian Players. Tata, Bharti, Reliance and BSNL have started WiMax network operations in select cities. WiMax has been identified as the only technology to extend the broadband services to rural areas.

Significant factor

The significant factor contributing for WiMax viability is the spectral efficiency as the technology is standardised to have a long distance coverage with a single BTS.

It is reported that the implementation cost is about one tenth only in the case of WiMax as compared to 3G.

While only the mobile users are targeted in the 3G with differentiated services, different types of communication are possible (BWA, Mobile, Fixed, E1) through WiMax. Global roaming comes as default in WiMax mobile as system design.

[faizone 15]

in wimax.. the antenna needs to be oriented towards the transmitter and the slightest misalignment can screw up connectivity... in 3g broadband we dont have that problem.. as long as we have a good wireless signal, things are fine..

[Arun 795]

Well, that is for Fixed WiMax which is already available in India and requires an antenna on the roof top. This article is referring to Mobile WiMax which can be used directly in portable devices.

[ssr 10]

Arun any news on Mobile WiMax devices available/going to launch?

Edited September 21, 2008 by ss_rakesh