WiMAX: The Rebel Broadband

SUMMARY

Just because WiMAX has been the center of a lot of attention lately does not mean that it is all hype and no substance. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Currently, there is a large number of companies actively promoting WiMAX, with nearly 200 in its WiMAX forum. It also has opportunities before it to not only be a potentially cheaper way of providing broadband - both in the US and abroad - but it also can be used as a means to provide backhaul for cellular BTSs, as well as, eventually, providing an alternative to the high cost of using a mobile phone.

However, there are still a reasonable amount of unknowns involved with WiMAX, so, in this report, we provide three different scenarios for how WiMAX will be used in the US and a detailed forecast for each perspective.

• Local WISPs adopting WiMAX to be more cost effective
• National companies rollout combined WiMAX + VoIP services
• National companies offer combined WiMAX + VoIP + Satellite TV services

Taking to the most likely scenario, the second of the above, we also provide a worldwide forecast for WiMAX market, including its use as a backhaul technology.

This WiMAX report also provides a detailed technical backgrounder and an expansive market overview so that the reader is fully versed in all the pertinent aspects of WiMAX.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Executive Summary
• Methodology
• Introduction
• WiMAX Technical Overview
  • Modulation Technology
    • CDMA, Code Division Multiple Access
    • DSSS, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
    • FDMA, Frequency Division Multiple Access
    • FHSS, Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum
    • TDMA, Time Division Multiple Access
    • OFDM, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
    • W-OFDM, Wideband-OFDM
    • OFDMA, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access
  • Wireless Standards
    • IEEE 802.11 Standards
      • IEE 802.11b
      • IEE 802.11a
      • IEE 802.11g
    • IEEE 802.11 Task Groups
      • Task Group E (TGe)
      • Task Group H (TGh)
      • Task Group I (TGi)
      • Task Group J (TGj)
      • Task Group N (TGn)
      • Task Group R (TGr)
      • Task Group S (TGs)
      • Task Group T (TGt)
    • IEEE 802.16
      • IEEE 802.16a
      • IEEE Std 802.16/Conformance03-2004
      • IEEE 802.16e
      • IEEE 802.16f
      • IEEE 802.16g
    • IEEE 802.20
  • License Exempt vs. Licensed Spectrum
    • Licensed Spectrum
    • License-Exempt
  • Network Topology
    • Point-to-Multipoint
    • Point-to-Point
  • Mesh Networks
• WiMAX Market Overview
  • WiMAX Applications
    • Cellular Backhaul
    • Clustered Wi-Fi Hotspot Backhaul
    • Last-Mile Broadband
    • Cell phone Replacements
    • Other Applications
      • Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs)
      • Vehicular Data and Voice
      • Security Applications
      • First Responders
  • WiMAX Forum
  • WiMAX Market Drivers
    • Emergence of WiMAX Standards
    • Backing of Intel
    • Breaking the Duopoly
    • Foreign Investors
    • Municipal Endeavors
    • Homeland Security
  • WiMAX Market Challenges
    • Interference
    • Scale
  • Government Regulations
    • United States
    • Worldwide
  • National WiMAX Rollout Model
• WiMAX Forecasts
  • CPE Scenario 1
  • CPE Scenario 2
  • CPE Scenario 3
  • WiMAX BTSs
  • Point-to-Point Equipment
  • Worldwide WiMAX Forecast

List of Tables

• Table 1. 802.11 Standards
• Table 2. WLAN Technology Matrix - Past and Present
• Table 3. IEEE 802.11 Major Task Groups and Study Groups
• Table 4. 802.16 Wireless MAN Standards
• Table 5. Relationship Between 802.16e, 802.20, and 3G - Part 1
• Table 6. Relationship Between 802.16e, 802.20, and 3G - Part 2
• Table 7. License-Exempt Spectrum for Fixed wireless broadband
• Table 8. Triple, Quadruple, and Quintuple Play Savings Comparisons Versus Dial-up
• Table 9. Triple, Quadruple, and Quintuple Play Savings Comparisons Versus Broadband
• Table 10. Possible Government Funded Projects for WiMAX
• Table 11. Initial Costs for a National Rollout of WiMAX
• Table 12. Final Costs for a National Rollout of WiMAX
• Table 13. Revenue Opportunity WiMAX Plays by Penetration Rate ($M)
• Table 14. US Scenario 1 WiMAX CPE Forecast, 2004 - 2008
• Table 15. US Scenario 2 WiMAX CPE Forecast, 2004 - 2008
• Table 16. US Scenario 3 WiMAX CPE Forecast, 2004 - 2008
• Table 17. US Scenario 1 WiMAX BTS Forecast, 2004 - 2008
• Table 18. US Scenario 2 WiMAX BTS Forecast, 2004 - 2008
• Table 19. US Scenario 3 WiMAX BTS Forecast, 2004 - 2008
• Table 20. WW Point-to-Point Forecast, 2004 - 2008
• Table 21. WW BTS, PtP, and CPE Forecast, 2004 - 2008

List of Figures

• Figure 1. WW Forecast of CPE, BTS, and PtP Revenues and Shipments, 2004 - 2008
• Figure 2. MDS and MMDS Band Allocation
• Figure 3. LMDS Band Allocation
• Figure 4. Sample Point-to-Multipoint Configuration
• Figure 5. Sample Point-to-Point Configuration
• Figure 6. 3-Ring Deployment of WiMAX BTSs with Minimal PtP Link Usage
• Figure 7. 3-Ring Deployment of WiMAX BTSs with More PtP Links for Better Reliability
• Figure 8. Multiple Clusters of 6-Way PtP Links Shows Maximum Flexibility
• Figure 9. Speed of CPU Trend Against Internet Connection Method
• Figure 10. US Scenario 1 CPE Forecast, 2004 - 2008
• Figure 11. US Scenario 2 CPE Forecast, 2004 - 2008
• Figure 12. US Scenario 3 CPE Forecast, 2004 - 2008