WIMAX With Differentiation By Elvis Tucker, Aperto Networks

Written by Elvis Tucker, Director of Solutions & Alliances, Aperto Networks

The WiMAX Forum defines the profiles that any WiMAX-compliant broadband wireless access systems must support in order to achieve inter-operability. But while inter-operability is an important goal for any WIMAX-compliant system, it will not ensure optimization. Hence, not all WiMAX-compliant systems will be created equally. While the new WiMAX Forum-certified products are expected to have higher levels of performance over the pre-WiMAX single carrier systems, it is equally clear that some WiMAX systems will perform better than others – especially in critical areas.

What are the key performance differentiators that will set apart the WiMAX Fiat from the WiMAX Ferrari? Many believe that quality of service, scalability, manageability and maintenance top the list. As operators gear up to address the mass market WiMAX opportunity, some features can emerge as critical to their success and should be kept in mind when one is out "kicking the tires" of a prospective WiMAX system.

Quality of Service – WIMAX specifies that a compliant system should support QoS. However, specific algorithms for achieving QoS suitable for multimedia service differentiation and enterprise level service agreements are not specified by the standard. Considering the growing popularity of voice over IP (VoIP) in developed markets and exploding demand for voice services in emerging markets, many believe that voice services may emerge as the "killer app" for WiMAX. Advanced WiMAX systems will allow operators to tune the system for the unique characteristics of voice (low latency and jitter) – delivering toll quality while simultaneously satisfying the bandwidth hungry data and streaming media applications. WiMAX systems implemented with leading edge QoS features will offer a distinctive advantage to operators intending to offer voice, data and multi-media services.