IEEE 802.20: mobile broadband wireless access

This article provides a survey of the emerging IEEE 802.20 standard, also known as mobile broadband wireless access. It provides an introduction to the activities with regard to this standard, including purpose and scope that the specification defines. The relationship with other similar standards such as IEEE 802.16e and 3G are discussed as well. Various technical details of the standard are presented, including quality of service parameters, data rates available to end users, application support, and security. Characteristics that the air interface should provide, specifically in regard to the physical and medium access control layers, are detailed as well