Understanding WiMAX: An IEEE-802.16 Standard-Based Wireless Technology

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) is an IEEE 802.16 standard-based broadband cellular wireless solution in which orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) is the method of sharing communication resources among large numbers of users. This is in contrast with multiple access technologies such as frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), and code division multiple access (CDMA) that were dominant in 1G (first generation cellular systems), 2G, 2.5G, and 3G cellular networks. As the demand for wireless communications grows almost exponentially, the ability to access these networks becomes an important commodity. This is particularly the case in cellular networks where the demand for broadband access is pushing the industry to advance into the next generation of wireless mobile networks.