 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
ARTICLE
By Robert Syputa, Senior Analyst
The discussion over the role that WiMAX will play in the evolving landscape of the converging wireless broadband industry has been shifting rapidly over the past several months: closer alignment between the rapid development of WiMAX and LTE has been emerging. The question for incumbent operators looks much more about when a shift to IP networks will make sense and how to convert the prescribed "walled garden" mobile-service business model so it doesn't degenerate to selling a wholesale open-bandwidth pipe. The question is no longer about 'if' but 'when' and how to master the now inevitable changes. The way forward is for control of QoS, multiple IP-based services, and targeted advertising. WiMAX/802.16 is designed to deliver multiple types and levels of service through implementation of a flexible, IP network architecture and both authentication and QoS mechanisms. WiMAX can be implemented as a flat, "pure IP" network or as part of a multi-mode service environment through application servers, network gateways, and IMS. The advance of WiMAX is forcing LTE to the front burner. Ahead of IP-based
services otherwise being solidified within 3GPP, incumbent operators are
pressing development of LTE to develop ways to transition networks so that they can evolve their business models to delivery of premium services and LTE and IMT-Advanced are now headed in a similar direction as WiMAX has been heading: creating networks that are OFDMA-based, adaptive to various channels and signal conditions, and based on standards that allow significant change and extension without breaking. This approach now looks obvious. Admittance of WiMAX into IMT-2000 The admittance of WiMAX OFDMA TDD WMAN (IP-OFDMA) into the IMT-2000 family of 3G standards makes it clear that WiMAX is a cellular wireless system. This includes mobile capability, but like IMT-Advanced and other emerging prescriptions for NGMN/4G, is a scalable framework which can be implemented as a local-to-metro scale wireless broadband network and for both high-value and commodity applications. LTE is a worthwhile development that the WiMAX cannot argue does not make sense as it copies the objectives and set of technologies. Likewise, WiMAX builds on past success of 3G, lessons learned in how to structure standards, exploratory R&D, and how to construct a development ecosystem. But WiMAX is here now and first to exploit OFDM/OFDMA plus MIMO-AAS in a pure IP wide area, granular network environment. The big challenge is building sales momentum. LTE has the goal of availability sometime in 2009. And to transition incumbent IMT-2000 network spectrum may take several years beyond commercial introduction for either WiMAX or LTE. Subscribers must first transition via multi-mode devices before a hard turnover of network spectrum can occur. That allows WiMAX time to establish momentum beyond common perception. But this also allows LTE time to develop to counter WiMAX's charge. Transitions of 3G spectrum are unlikely to significantly start until 2012 or later. This is likely to make the winning of incumbent operators for deployment of NGMN a long term positioning strategy than with a substantial shift for incumbent deployments a work in progress for several years. That poses LTE more as a paper tiger effort aimed at stalling momentum of WiMAX than forging a near-term shift in market direction from 3G to NGMN/4G. WiMAX has an image communication problem. Its marketing image has not positioned it as "an evolutionary platform." It must be conceded that LTE starts out with the premise that it is an evolution of 3G. This turns out to be more marketing hype than reality. It is not much different from> the premise for WiMAX in ability to migrate the user base and supplant existing networks. Both WiMAX and LTE are disruptive in their need to convert spectrum and enable a shift to the IP-centered business model. There are technical differences between these two. LTE, which will use OFDMA on the downlink and SC-OFDM on the uplink, is optimized for downlink bandwidth and lower power consumption in portable devices. WiMAX uses OFDMA on both up and downlink combined with adaptive power control, modulation, channelization and system architecture to reduce mobile device power requirements. This approach provides more symmetrical bandwidth. The LTE approach assumes that future network traffic volumes will reflect past experience: : downlink to uplink ratios of 5:1 to 3:1. This assumption that is being cast into doubt by recent real-world experience in 3G data networks. Recent network studies by operators show that two thirds of traffic bandwidth is PtP based. Person-to-person traffic including personal video and file sharing requires more symmetrical bandwidth capacity. This trend is likely to continue if not accelerate as new applications such as video conferencing and video posting/sharing come into vogue. That helps tip the balance in favor of more symmetrical and distributed technologies and network architecture. Although a wide range of solutions is required, the argument in favor of adaptive use of OFDMA for both uplink and downlink traffic and spatial domain enhancement to both increase capacity and reduce subscriber power requirement is gaining credibility. WiMAX Success with Respect to LTE Because the technologies and goals are similar, success of WiMAX comes down to execution and marketing. WiMAX is challenging the huge cellular industry for a place alongside it, as wireless becomes increasingly a broadband applications platform. But, likewise, the incumbent mobile wireless industry is challenging to become the most personal and leveraged aspect for program applications, content, and services for converged wired and wireless network environments. Shai Yaniv, Sr. Director Corporate Marketing, Alvarion comments that for WiMAX "There is a huge market demand for personal and primary broadband for consumers and households in various regions. WiMAX in the next few years does not necessarily need to address the high vehicular speed applications, which are more associated with voice and audio-visual conversational applications. However, since WiMAX is clearly available before LTE, the time to market advantage WiMAX holds can bring it to fulfill mobile applications in various environments a well. Certainly, the technological capabilities exist and the industry will focus on creating the eco system to help make this happen if the market for WiMAX as a vehicular speed mobile system develops." "We should also be looking at the market dynamics with regards to what steps the non mobile carriers and ISPs will take to make space for personal broadband services in their portfolio. Mobile (3G) operators will need to assess their plans as well as considering LTE will not be available soon. This is even more the case for 2G carriers having no 3G spectrum." "WiMAX needs to keep up the momentum, particularly on the consumer electronics side which faces challenges leading the industry in use of antenna technologies", Shai added. Mr. Yaniv's comments show both the convergence that is taking place among operator business models and the challenges for WiMAX development. Open IP environments are needed to foster common technology development and manufacturing efficiencies, but also cast several diverse businesses into competition. The first task for long-term evolution of the wireless industry has been to construct a flexible framework standard and development environment. IEEE 802.16 and the WiMAX Forum have a significant portion of that work. Evolution of both systems and business models still lies ahead. WiMAX has made progress in wireless development and in the perception of what it can deliver and where it is headed. WiMAX is a long term evolutionary wireless platform. For more information you can contact the author. robert@maravedis-bwa.com
|
|
|
|
|||
| Created by: Virage>2.0 |
