A Comprehensive Review on WiMAX Networks

In the new era of communication, WiMAX (IEEE 802.16) is the most emerging technology that enables ubiquitous delivery of broadband wireless access for fixed and mobile users. It is a more innovative and commercially viable alternative to cable modems and DSL technologies as it is cost effective, easy to implement, high performance and high resource utilization technology. This economic environment has led to the development of the IEEE 802.16 standards [1] to support broadband wireless multi-service access in metropolitan area. In addition, the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) Forum [2] has been formed which promotes the technology and provides compatibility and interoperability for 802.16-based products. Accordingly, the term WiMAX is often used interchangeably with IEEE 802.16 technologies. WiMAX a wireless standard which uses orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) and promises to offer mobile broadband services even at a vehicular speed of up to 120 km/h. WiMAX complements the third generation (3G) wireless standards and the wireless local area networks (WLANs) on coverage and data rate. IEEE 802.16e-based WiMAX is the standard that is likely to dominate the fourth generation (4G) wireless world. WiMAX needs no line of sight for a connection and covers a larger coverage area than WLAN and is comparatively less costly compared to the current 3G cellular standards. Although the WiMAX standard supports both fixed and mobile broadband data services, the latter have larger demand. In WiMAX, quality of service (QoS) is provided through scheduling of the different types of traffic classes defined by the standard. Each class has its own bandwidth requirements as well as its QoS, which has to be maintained. This paper reviews and compares different types of connections defined in the WiMAX standard and provides an overview of the state-of-the-art mobile WiMAX technology and its development, the Mobile WiMAX standard, the development of the standards to support mobile multihop relays in a WiMAX network and applications of WiMAX are provided.