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Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) is yet another technology, which aims to solve the vexing last-mile problem that plagues ISPs and telcos in developing countries.

Carriers see WiMax as a means of hooking up rural and remote areas to broadband services. The benefit of WiMax is that it will open the way to other operators, such as wireless ISPs, to offer broadband service. There are competitive operators that offer fixed services today, and are looking to get into the mobile market by building high-capacity data networks.

WiMax covers a range of spectrum below 11 GHz. The available spectrum falls into two distinct categories-unlicensed and licensed. In most markets, the unlicensed spectrum that could be used for WiMax is 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz. Since it is unlicensed, the entry barrier is low. But unlicensed band has its own disadvantages like interference, increased competition, and limited power.  Since unlicensed can be used by a lot of operators, there is a high probability of spectrum. A majority of telcos would not be comfortable starting services using unlicensed spectrum band.

On the other hand, licensed spectrum comes at a price and is free from interference. The unlicensed spectrum is found at 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz, 2.5 GHz, and 3.5 GHz.      

Beginning of this year, WiMax Forum announced the first fixed wireless broadband network products to achieve the designation of WiMax Forum Certified. The companies and products to initially complete certification and interoperability testing included Aperto Networks' PacketMax 5,000 base station, Redline Communications' RedMAX AN-100U base station, Sequans Communications' SQN2010 SoC base station solution, and Wavesat's miniMAX customer premise equipment solution.

WiMax is a credible solution to a number of problems that have plagued the fixed wireless industry, ie the lack of an open standard and absence of major silicon vendors and equipment suppliers. Once WiMax certified equipment is available from a number of suppliers, increased competition along with increased volume shipment will result in attractive price points.

Rajasthan is the place where Motorola has started state-wise deployment of WiMax broadband infrastructure. It could be considered as the wireless backbone for the state, which could be used by 10,000 village councils. This network could be used as Internet in the rural areas. Similarly, Aperto Networks and VSNL has completed the deployment of their packet wave multi-services in 65 cities across India. Some of the corporate end-users, who have benefited from these services are Tata-Tele services, Hyundai Auto, and Amadeus.

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