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Mobile
WiMAX Update
The WiMAX standard for mobile applications
(802.16e) was ratified on December 7, 2005 by IEEE. This
paves the way for development and testing of standards-based
mobile solutions. Here's what equipment manufacturers say
we can expect:
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Peak data rates of up to
20 Mbps, but average mobile user rates of 1-4 Mbps.
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Mobile coverage 1-2
miles from a site
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2006 - equipment
certification process could begin
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2006-'07 will be
build-out years
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Products shipping in
volume in 2008 and 2009
Articles on Mobile WiMAX:
As of December
2005, there are no certified Mobile WiMAX products.
Anything claiming to be WiMAX is really "pre" WiMAX.
What's the difference between
a pre-WiMAX product and one that is certified?
Pre-WiMAX solutions may offer
performance similar to certified solutions, but they utilize
proprietary technology. Proprietary means that you'll
be locked into one manufacturer for the major components of
your solution.
Alternatively, standards-based technology will eventually
increase competition and lower the cost of
equipment, thus making it easier to adopt. However,
the distinction
(standard vs. proprietary) may be meaningless if the solution is
not for a network to be used by the general public. Price
is not the major factor for private networks, and proprietary technology can make your network more
secure.
Pre-WiMAX, 900MHz and (non-802.11) 2.4 GHz and
5 GHz proprietary solutions may be more appropriate solutions
when you're trying to limit usage of your network to a private
or select group of mobile workers.
Should I wait for WiMAX Mobile
Solutions?
We suggest looking heavily at WiMAX Mobile
(802.16e) if you're not looking to do broadband mobile data before
2008/2009. But if you want to make progress sooner,
there's other technology available that is quantum leaps
ahead of traditional mobile solutions.
Warning:
Technology advances so fast
that focusing on future technology always keeps you on the
sidelines. There's always talk about what's coming out
next year, but you have to be willing to play with today's
technology before you can get out on the field.
What technology best supports public safety
agencies in rural-America?
Systems
around Chicago must be designed to
handle large numbers of users within densely populated
areas. However, we have to
design coverage across large areas to reach much smaller numbers
of users in other parts of the Midwest. It stands to
reason that the technology that's best for some parts of the
country may not be best for others.
Licensed 700 MHz, unlicensed 900 MHz,
unlicensed Wi-Fi, and WiMAX in licensed and unlicensed bands may
all be potential solutions for us to consider. There's certainly a lot of hype around
several of these now, but there's no "one right answer".
We'd encourage you not to get fixated on any one technology
before considering them all. Don't
worry, considering them all doesn't have to be that hard!
Here's how to get your arms around your needs.
Start by just identifying the basics:
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Users
- Who will be your users? Police, Fire,
Public Works, the general public? Will you have 20,
200 or
20,000 users?
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Applications
- What applications will you need to run?
Email, Records, CAD, GIS Service/Billing, Security Video
and/or Surveillance, etc?
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Security -
Security is a must. A few
solution providers like RACOM have firewalls and
security in place that already meet state and federal
requirements for accessing and transmitting NCIC data.
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Reliability
- You have to assume that traditional phones and cell
service won't be available. Do you need a private
system?
Then evaluate your options comparing the
three most critical elements:
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Bandwidth
- What speed is required to support your applications?
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Coverage
Area -
Where is mobile coverage required?
All over town(s)? County-wide?
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Cost
- There are four major cost components:
1) Infrastructure - Sites/Access
Points and connectivity between them,
2) Mobile Units - hardware, software
and install to set up each vehicle
3) Network Software
4) On-going
maintenance.
Contact
Terry at (888) 752-1015 or via
Email if you have
questions or would
like assistance in evaluating, designing or implementing
broadband mobile technology. |
