What is WiMax: A Simple Approach to Understand WiMax

Figure 1 WiMAX has the potential to impact all forms of telecommunications

WiMAX has the potential to replace a number of existing telecommunications infrastructures. In a fixed wireless configuration it can replace the telephone company's copper wire networks, the cable TV's coaxial cable infrastructure while offering Internet Service Provider (ISP) services. In its mobile variant, WiMAX has the potential to replace cellular networks. How do we get there?

What is WiMAX or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access? WiMAX is an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE, see http://www.ieee.org) standard designated 802.16-2004 (fixed wireless applications) and 802.16e-2005 (mobile wire-less). The industry trade group WiMAX ForumTM (http://www.wimaxforum.org ) has defined WiMAX as a "last mile" broadband wireless access (BWA) alternative to cable modem service, telephone company Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or T1/E1 service.

Fixed WiMAX


Figure 2 Fixed WiMAX offers cost effective point to point and point to multi-point solutions

What makes WiMAX so exciting is the broad range of applications it makes possible but not limited to broadband internet access, T1/E1 substitute for businesses, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) as telephone company substitute, Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) as cable TV substitute, backhaul for Wi-Fi hotspots and cell phone towers, mobile telephone service, mobile data TV, mobile emergency response services, wireless backhaul as substitute for fiber optic cable.

WiMAX provides fixed, portable or mobile non-line-of sight service from a base station to a subscriber station, also known as customer premise equipment (CPE). Some goals for WiMAX include a radius of service coverage of 6 miles from a WiMAX base station for point-to-multipoint, non-line-of-sight (see following pages for illustrations and definitions) service. This service should deliver approximately 40 megabits per second (Mbps) for fixed and portable access applications. That WiMAX cell site should offer enough bandwidth to support hundreds of businesses with T1 speeds and thousands of residential customers with the equivalent of DSL services from one base station.

Mobile WiMAX


Figure 3 Mobile WiMAX allows any telecommunications to go mobile

Mobile WiMAX takes the fixed wireless application a step further and enables cell phone-like applications on a much larger scale. For example, mobile WiMAX enables streaming video to be broadcast from a speeding police or other emergency vehicle at over 70 MPH. It potentially replaces cell phones and mobile data offerings from cell phone operators such as EvDo, EvDv and HSDPA. In addition to being the final leg in a quadruple play, it offers superior building penetration and improved security measures over fixed WiMAX. Mobile WiMAX will be very valuable for emerging services such as mobile TV and gaming.

WiMAX is not Wi-Fi


Figure 4 Where Wi-Fi covers an office or coffee shop, WiMAX covers a city

One of the most often heard descriptions of WiMAX in the press is that it is "Wi-Fi on steroids". In truth, it is considerably more than that. Not only does WiMAX offer exponentially greater range and throughput than Wi-Fi (technically speaking 802.11b, although new variants of 802.11 offer substantial improvements over the "b" variant of 802.11), it also offers carrier grade quality of service (QoS) and security. Wi-Fi has been notorious for its lack of security. The "b" variant of 802.11 offered no prioritization of traffic making it less than ideal for voice or video. The limited range and throughput of Wi-Fi means that a Wi-Fi service provider must deploy multiple access points in order to cover the same area and service the same number of customers as one WiMAX base station (note the differences in nomenclature). The IEEE 802.11 Working group has since approved upgrades for 802.11 security and QoS.

Converged voice and data easy as FM radio?


Figure 5 With WiMAX, converged voice and data can be as easy as FM radio

Visualize turning on an FM radio in your office. You receive information (news, weather, sports) from that service (the FM radio station) and hardware (the FM radio with attached antenna). WiMAX can be described as being somewhat similar. In place of a radio station there is a base station (radio and antenna) that transmits information (internet access, VoIP, IPTV) and the subscriber has a WiMAX CPE that receives the services. The major difference is that with WiMAX the service is two-way or interactive.



Figure 6 WiMAX indoor CPE goes near the window and attaches to the customer's network

courtesy: wimax.com

Broadband News: Broadband to one third of people of Bangladesh by 2015

Nov 30, 2008

The government hopes to provide internet facilities to 30 percent of the country's population and community-based broadband to all villages by 2015, the chief adviser's press secretary Syed Fahim Munaim said on Sunday.

The press aide was briefing reporters after a cabinet meeting which passed the "National Broadband Policy 2008".

Munaim said the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, in consultation with stakeholders, had finalised the policy with 11 clauses and guidelines for broadband to flourish in the country.

"The guidelines reveal that 30 percent of the country's population will be brought under the internet by 2015. All universities, medical colleges, technical universities, research bodies, all ministries, autonomous and non-governmental organisations will have access to the net," he said.

The press secretary also said e-governance facilities would reach Upazila levels by 2012 and all villages by 2015.

"At least one national internet exchange will be set up in each divisional headquarter by 2010," he said.

Munaim said the advisory council meeting, chaired by chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, also finally approved the Local Government (Union Parishad) Ordinance 2008 and the Vested Property Return (Amendment) Ordinance 2008.

On the latter, the CA's spokesman said a law was enacted in 2001 but not published by gazette resulting in lethargy in implementation.

"A gazette will be published soon in this regard."

The cabinet also approved the merger of BSD and BSRS into BDBL, a public limited company and government Finance and Budget Management Ordinance-2008, Fahim said.

The advisory council further approved the setting-up of the North East Zone Power Distribution Company Limited under the Power Development Board.

The new company with a nine-member board of directors will operate in greater Mymensingh and Sylhet regions, Munaim said.

He said the interim cabinet also approved a draft MOU between Bangladesh and Australia for cooperation on prevention of terrorism. The MOU stipulates that both countries will exchange intelligence reports, meet at policy level and provide technical and specialised training among other measures.

The council of advisers sent a draft policy on private satellite operations back to the concerned ministry for further studies and revisions, Fahim added.

All advisers—except the finance adviser—special assistants to the CA new cabinet secretary M Abul Aziz, and other relevant secretaries.

courtesy: bdnews24.com

Broadband News: BTCL to launch broadband internet by Dec, 2008

Courtesy: bdnews24.com

Nov 13, 2008
The Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) says it has decided to launch broadband internet service through outsourcing by December.

The BTCL board at a meeting presided over by chairman Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman made the decision on Thursday, the company said in a press statement.

The board also decided on the procurement policy and awarding incentives to the company's staffers.

WIMAX News: BRAC's BDmail declines Wimax licence

courtesy: bdnews24.com

Dhaka, Nov 15 2008

BRAC's BDmail Network has declined a licence to operate Wimax in Bangladesh.

"BRAC BDmail will not pay for the licence. They informed us in a letter," BTRC chairman Monzurul Alam told bdnews24.com Saturday.

The company sent the letter to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission last week.

"As per our guidelines, we will invite the company who gave the next highest bid in auction. We will make a final decision on Sunday," said the BTRC chief.

The telecoms regulator had already extended the deadline for payment of the licence fee from Oct. 16 to Nov. 15, on request by BDMail and another licence winner BanglaLion Communications.

The winning companies must pay Tk 215 crore for each licence, 50 percent by the deadline and the rest in the next 90 days.

Aguree Wireless was the third licence winner in an open auction in September. Vitel Bangla came fourth among the bidders.

Abdus Salam, consortium member of Vitel Bangla, told benews24.com: "If BTRC invites us, we will pay for the licence."

Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited will also apply for the remaining licence, said a BTCL official.

According to the licence guidelines, WiMax operators will initially have to install 90 base stations and expand their network within three years. More than 60 percent foreign investment will not be allowed, though non-resident Bangladeshis may invest 70 percent.

Broadband News: BTRC slashes bandwidth fee for rural access

courtesy: bdnews24.com

Monday, 10-Nov-2008
Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has slashed the domestic bandwidth charge by 60 percent to reach the internet facilities to the rural people who have been on the wrong side of the digital divide.

The latest cut in charges, second in five months, takes effect from Dec.1, the telecoms regulator said in a press statement on Monday.

The BTRC has issued a circular on the service providers stating that the move came in order to help upgrade the living standards in the countryside by providing easy access to internet, the BTRC release said.

The authorities also instructed the mobile operators, PSTN operators and ISP to reschedule their charges by Nov. 13 in line with the reduced charges.

"The drop in the bandwidth charges by 60 percent will facilitate internet facilities in the remote villages to help alleviate poverty and ensure development there," BTRC chairman retired major general Manzurul Alam told bdnews24.com

"The use of internet and broadband will see a jump nationwide after the move gets effective."

As per the reduced charges Tk 200-250 per km for 50 km, Tk 155-200 per km for 51-100 km, Tk120-160 per km for 101-200 km, Tk100-130 per km for 201-300 km, Tk75-95 per km for 301 km and above have been fixed.

Broadband News: Land phones with Broadband Line by December, 2008

Dhaka, 2008 Oct 10 - Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited will start connecting land phones with broadband internet connections by December, a senior government official said on Friday.

Telecommunications secretary Iqbal Mahmood told bdnews24.com that internet connections would initially be given to some districts in addition to Dhaka.

Mahmood said 26 telephone exchanges were being prepared for the service.

The state-run company will use Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line or ADSL technology that helps landline users to access phone and internet on the same line, a senior BTCL official said.

The users will have to install a modem costing up to Tk 5,000 for the service.

The speedy internet connection will be available for BTCL phone users at a competitive price.

A BTCL official preferring anonymity said users of Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna, Rajshahi, Bogra and some other districts would get broadband internet connection initially.

He said the BTCL would charge less than private companies for the service.

Digital phone users can use dial-up internet without any connection fee. It charges Tk 0.10 per minute in off-peak hours and Tk 0.15 during peak hours or Tk 6 and Tk 9 per hour respectively.

BTCL provides digital data network service in 71 areas in 41 districts.

Internet service providers have over 10 lakh subscribers and BTCL has about 30,000 internet users.

Mobile phone and PSTN operators have approximately 50 lakh internet users.

The government is going to allow 170 more private firms to provide internet connections.

 

Courtesy: bdnews24.com

Guidelines for use of Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Technology in Bangladesh

I get to manage the draft guideline below that has been posted in BTRC website. You can have a look.

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BANGLADESH TELECOMMUNICATION REGULATORY COMMISSION

Guidelines for use of Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Technology in Bangladesh

1. INTRODUCTION:

1.1.    Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (the Commission) has the responsibility under the Bangladesh Telecommunication Act 2001 (the Act) to ensure access to reliable and reasonably priced Internet-services for the greater number of people, as far as practicable. With this aim in view, the Commission is considering the use of Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Technology for last mile access solutions to open up new possibilities and create enabling situation for greater Internet penetration at an affordable cost.

1.2.    The Commission is hereby providing guidelines for the approved commercial/non-commercial use of the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band frequencies in Bangladesh using the Wi-Fi technology in order to ensure rapid expansion of services and accelerated increase in Internet penetration.

1.3.    These guidelines are to be read subject to the Act and other relevant laws and in conjunction with the respective operators' license conditions.

1.4.    These guidelines may be withdrawn, revised, updated or amended from time to time, without any prior notice, to take into consideration various factors including but not limited to, any threat to public health, national interest, national security and pursuant to statute or court orders.





2. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES:

2.1.    As per the National Frequency Allocation Plan 2005 (NFAP 2005), spectrum from the ISM band in 2.4000-2.4835 GHz and 5.725-5.875 GHz is allocated for Wi-Fi use.

2.2.    Access to the spectrum will be on shared basis. There will be no exclusive assignment to any individual or organizations, whether for private, public or commercial use.

2.3.    Any Government or Private Organization/Educational Institution/Corporate Body can establish and use Wi-Fi Network on non commercial/non-profit basis.

2.4.    Household/private users are not required to take any permission from the Commission or pay any levy/charge for using Wi-Fi in the given ISM band.

2.5.    Both indoor and outdoor Wi-Fi is permitted in the given spectrum of ISM band. However, the maximum power output for the Wi-Fi equipment is limited to 1 watt.

2.6.    All commercial Wi-Fi Hotspot operators/service providers shall possess an ISP or equivalent License (e.g., BWA License). Existing operators having such License from the Commission will be eligible to establish Wi-Fi network for providing last mile solution.

2.7.    Operators/service providers will submit a detailed list of Wi-Fi outdoor Hotspots to the Commission. There will be levy/charges applicable annually for all hotspots. The levy/charge shall be charged as per the Rate List published by the Commission.

2.8.    All service providers will obtain permission in the form of No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Commission for importation, deployment, use and providing any service with Wi-Fi equipment. Guideline for Application and Application form is available at http://www.btrc.gov.bd. Existing ISM band operators who wish to adapt their present Wi-Fi equipment for the same purpose may also be provided permission from the Commission on case by case basis.

2.9.    All vendors in possession of "Dealer Possession And Radio Communication Equipment Vendor License" issued by the Commission are eligible to apply for NOC for importation and marketing of Wi-Fi equipment in Bangladesh.

2.10.The Commission reserves the right to cancel the permission if any complication arises anytime.

Link: here