IEEE 802.16

From Free net encyclopedia

The IEEE 802.16 or Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) Working Group, which was established by IEEE Standards Board in 1999, aims to prepare formal specifications for the global deployment of broadband Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks. The Workgroup is a unit of the IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee.

1 802.16 standards
2 WiMAX
3 Amendments to the standard
4 Certification
5 See also
6 External links

[edit]

802.16 standards

The first 802.16 standard was approved in December 2001 and was followed by three amendments – 802.16a, 802.16b and 802.16c to address issues of radio spectrum, quality of service and inter-operability, respectively. In September 2003, a revision project called 802.16REVd commenced aiming to align the standard with aspects of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) HIPERMAN standard as well as lay down conformance and test specifications. This project concluded in 2004 with the release of 802.16-2004 and the withdrawal of the earlier 802.16 documents including the a/b/c amendments.

[edit]

WiMAX

The 802.16 family of standards has been dubbed “WiMAX” by an industry group called the The WiMAX Forum. The mission of the Forum is to promote and certify compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless products. The acronym WiMAX expands to "Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access".

[edit]

Amendments to the standard

An amendment to the standard, 802.16e, addressing mobility was concluded in 2005. This is sometimes called “Mobile WiMAX”, and should not be confused with 802.20, the planned standard for Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA) itself probably some years away. Although different standards, the goals of 802.16e and 802.20 are similar.

Further amendments are in development including:

802.16f – Management Information Base
802.16g - Management Plane Procedures and Services

Amendments at pre-draft stage:

802.16h - Improved Coexistence Mechanisms for License-Exempt Operation
802.16i - Mobile Management Information Base

[edit]

Certification

Because the IEEE only sets specifications but does not test equipment for compliance with them, the WiMAX Forum runs a certification program wherein members pay for certification. WiMAX certification by this group is intended to guarantee compliance with the standard and interoperability with equipment from other manufacturers. The mission of the Forum is to promote and certify compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless products.

[edit]