The New Nation - Internet Edition

Md. Habib-ur-Rahman Mollah

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission is likely to invite application for WiMAX license in mid-July, said the commission's chairman, Manzurul Alam. 'Population density and environmental perspectives will help introduce a new generation high-speed internet broadband service in the country,'

BTRC and six other telecom vendors Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Huawei, Intel, Motorola and Nokia Siemens Networks jointly organized the workshop on 'WiMAX in Bangladesh: now and future'. BTRC chairman said the aim of the workshop was to discuss issues relating to prospect of WiMAX technology in the country and to get a comprehensive licensing guideline for this technology.

WiMAX is a short name for Worldwide Interoperability of Microwave Access. WiMAX is described in IEEE 802.16 Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) standard. It is expected that WiMAX compliant systems will provide fixed wireless alternative to conventional DSL and Cable Internet.

WiMAX technology works little different than WiFi technology. In wifi computers can be connected through wireless LAN card to near by access point, wireless router or any Hotspot, it does not works this way when we talk about connectivity in WiMAX. WiMAX network connectivity constitutes of two parts, one can define as WiMAX tower or WiMAX booster, it is known as WiMAX Base station, whereas the other portion is WiMax receiver. Let's talk about them in little details for better understanding the working.

WiMAX base station: As name explains base station is place where WiMax signals are broadcasted. It consists of electronic devices and WiMax Tower. This tower works exactly like GSM network phones towers standing high up in the air to broadcast radio signals. WiMAX tower base station can cover up 10Km radius. In theory it suggests to cover a lot more distance than just 10Km, it can reach some where about 50 km (30 miles), but in fact due to certain geographical limitations it goes as far as 10 km approx. 6 mils. Any wireless connecting device for WiMAX will connect to WiMAX network if fallen in to the range.

WiMAX Receiver: It is device or devices which receives the signals from WiMAX base station and connects to the WiMAX networks. These devices are usually stand alone Antenna or PCMCIA slot card for laptops or computers. Connecting to WiMAX base stations works as similar as connection of Wifi to access point works, the only difference is that WiMAX covers much wider area.

One WiMAX base stations can be connected to several other base stations using high speed microwave link, this link is usually known as backhaul. This way WiMAX roaming can be achieved and connections can be maintained on move. Wimax support many protocols like ATM, IPv4 Ethernat, VLAN etc, this makes WiMax a rich choice for full of services from data to voice.

WiMAX is suitable for the potential applications like connecting Wi-Fi hotspots with each other and to other parts of internet, wireless alternative to cable and DSL for last mile broadband access, providing high-speed data and telecommunications services and adverse source of internet connectivity as part of a business continuity plan.

It is projected that if Wimax service starts, it will draw near about 10,000 users by the end of 2008 and by the end of 2010 it will be over 200,000. Compared to other countries, Bangladesh is a late entrant to the world of WiMAX. Worldwide traditional phone technologies are being replaced with WiMAX. A good number of national and international experts presented their papers on prospects of WiMAX technology in Bangladesh. So Wimax launching will bring a revolutionary change in Bangladesh telecom sector.

(Md. Habib-ur-Rahman Mollah, Dept. Of Computer Science and Engineering, Mawlana Bhasani Science and Technology University, Santosh, Tangail.)