- What actually WiMAX can do?
As discussed in earlier post, WiMAX works with the same principal as WiFi works. Data receiving and sending takes place through radio signal. Like WiFi there can be encryption system or other enhanced security system which prevents unauthorized access. The maximum data transfer rate through WiFi can be up to 54 Mbps under optimal conditions. WiMAX will be able to provide 70Mbps and will support more users at a time. You may find the speed is not anything that much from what WiFi can support. It’s not the speed, its the distance that is the key point. A WiFi access point can allow a radio transmission within 100-1000 meters under optimal condition. On the other hand a WiMAX base station can cover an area having a radius of upto 50 Km. This range can vary depending upon terrain, weather and large buildings and other obstacles.
- Cost Analysis for WiMAX
WiMAX is not going to be something cheap. It will require a good amount to deploy the system. Do you know you can do a networking among two or more pcs within a room using a bluetooth. This range of networking is Personal Area Network (PAN) and the range is too limited as well as the deployment cost. Then comes wifi. WiFi can cover the range of a Local Area Network. WiFi is infact the wireless version of LAN. Therefore it has a better coverage and the deployment is better too compared to PAN. A WiFi access point can cover a moderate sized neighborhood at most. Therefore you should be able to imagine a cost it would require to get a coverage of a Metropolitan City.
ISPs or other operators who ever wants to build their WiMAX network will have to bear the initial costing. Setting up base stations will be the major issue, from the users point of view, they will be requiring an adapter like WiFi (Wireless Lan). These adapters may initially cost more than $100 (around 7000 BDT). Laptop manufacturers have already started embedding WiMAX adapter into the upcoming Laptops. But the real hurdle will be to bring areas under WiMAX coverage.
Mobile phone operators in Bangladesh has done a great job so far ensuring greater coverage with their networks. Establishing such strong networks were also very expensive. They can be the potential deployer. But other companies like ISPs should get involved in this process since they have expertise and has a good future through WiMAX backbone. It will also ensure that WiMAX will not remain under a few companies thus restricting monopoly in this sector.
Although WiMAX license will be issued within this year, it will take a reasonable enough time to reach the fruit to the end users. In the meantime 3G can be a very good option for the mobile phone operators and other wireless fixed phone operators since they can really afford to integrate 3G to their existing network and since 3G license will also be issued within this year.
If you have any other information on the deployment cost of WiMAX and 3G, you are requested to please share it with us.