Sunday, December 28, 2008

YOTA LAUNCHES MOBILE WIMAX AND 4G IN RUSSIA

Scartel (brand Yota), a Russian provider of Mobile WiMAX, and HTC have launched the world’s first integrated GSM/WiMAX handset.

“Yota was established to provide a unique set of mobile communication services to millions of people in Russia and today we have launched the first device and services to realise its full potential,” said Denis Sverdlov, General Director of Yota’s parent company, Scartel LLC (brand Yota). “We really believe that these innovative services, high-speed Internet and stylish HTC MAX 4G will completely change the communications industry, just as the introduction of cellular communications did many years ago.”

The Yota Mobile WiMAX network offers high-speed wireless Internet access, and the Mobile WiMAX network with traffic prioritisation algorithms, allows online films, video and TV programmes to be viewed on the large WVGA screen.

Mobile WiMAX modems

All Mobile WiMAX devices
  • Provide Internet access at speeds up to 10 Mbps within the Yota network coverage area.
  • Have the pre-installed Yota Access program that helps establish Internet connection in a couple of minutes.
USB Modems
A USB modem can be used with either a notebook or a stationary computer.

Mobile WiMAX USB Modem Samsung SWC-U200

Mobile WiMAX USB Modem Samsung SWC-U200

Specifications:

Host InterfaceUSB2.0
ModulationQPSK, 16/64QAM, OFDMA
StandardIEEE 802.16e Wave 2
Frequency Support2.5~2.7GHz
Output Power0,2 W
Power Supply2,5 W
Size70x27x14 mm
Weight25g

Mobile WiMAX USB Modem ASUS WUSB25E2

Mobile WiMAX USB Modem ASUS WUSB25E2

Specifications:

Host Interface USB2.0
Modulation QPSK, 16/64QAM, OFDMA
Standard IEEE 802.16e Wave 2
Frequency Support 2.5~2.7GHz
Output Power 0,2 W
Power Supply 2,5 W
Size 105x36x10.6 mm
Weight 70g

ExpressCard Modems

The device is compatible with notebooks fitted by Express and PCMCIA slots.

Express Card 4G Mobile WiMAX 2,5-2,7 GHz SWC-E100

Express Card 4G Mobile WiMAX 2,5-2,7 GHz SWC-E100

Specifications:

Host InterfaceExpress port
ModulationQPSK, 16/64QAM, OFDMA
StandardIEEE 802.16e Wave 2
Frequency Support2.5~2.7GHz
Output Power0,2 W
Power Supply2,5 W
Size118x39,4x14 mm
Weight37,5g

Broadcasting 14 free channels at launch and 23 channels by the end of 2008, Yota TV introduces a powerful mobile television experience. The vibrant, 3.8 inch 800x480 screen of the HTC MAX 4G can display up to nine TV channels simultaneously, allowing quick and easy channel surfing and programme selection. Thanks to the device’s TV-out capability, users can also watch content on the big screen, putting the HTC MAX 4G at the very heart of the mobile entertainment experience.

”The introduction of the HTC MAX 4G represents the culmination of a close partnership between HTC and Yota to develop the world’s first integrated mobile GSM/WIMAX handset,” said Peter Chou, CEO and President, HTC Corporation. “Russia is a key strategic market for HTC and Yota’s Mobile WiMAX network sets a new global benchmark for next-generation mobile services.”

The HTC MAX 4G supports GSM calls using a SIM card from any Russian network operator and when both callers are Yota subscribers, the call will automatically be routed as a VoIP call over the Yota Mobile WiMAX network.

HTC MAX 4G Specifications
Processor:Qualcomm® ESM7206A™ 528 MHz
Platform:Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional
Memory:ROM: 288 MB, RAM: 288 MB, Flash: 8 GB, can be augmented with microSD cards
Dimensions:113.5 mm × 63.1 mm × 13.9 mm
Weight:151 gram (accumulator included)
Display:3.8-inch TFT-LCD flat touch-sensitive screen with 480x800 WVGA resolution
Network:Tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 900/1800/1900 MHz Yota Mobile WiMAX 2.5~2.7 GHz
GPS:Built-in GPS receiver
Connections:IEEE 802.16e (Mobile WiMAX) IEEE 802.11b/g (WiFi) Bluetooth 2.0 EDR HTC extUSB
Main camera:High-resolution with autofocus
Second:VGA-camera
Additional:FM-radio Motion G-sensor, position sensitive interface display automatically assesses the surrounding light and changes its own brightness
Memory cards: microSD (compatible with SD 2.0)
Audio: Supported: AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, QCP, MP3, WMA, WAV, 40 polyphonic and standard MIDI format
Battery: Li-Pol, 1500 mA⋅h
Talk time: GSM: up to 420 minutes
VoIP: up to 230 minutes
Standby time: GSM: up to 350 hours
VoIP: up to 50 hours
AC Adapter: Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240V AC, 50/60 Hz

EV-DO VS HSDPA VS WiMAX

With WiFi, laptop-toting road warriors were no longer tethered to cords for internet access. Cutting the cord, however, put the user at the mercy of finding a nearby Starbucks or other hotspot location, only partially providing the sense of freedom that users wanted. Eventually, cell phone companies realized providing high-speed data over cellular networks could be a major business boom, especially if the access could be relatively speedy. Now, we've got a few competing standards that can get you on the internet wirelessly, but there are a few gotchas with each standard. Read on as we break down the basics of wireless net access.

EV-DO

National providers
Sprint and Verizon Maximum throughput speed:

Rev 0: 2.4 Mbps download, 153 Kbps upload
Rev A: 3.1 Mbps download, 1.8 Mbps upload

Provider bandwidth caps 5GB download per month on both Sprint and Verizon.
Pricing: $59.99 / month for Sprint & Verizon

EV-DO was one of the first acceptable-speed mobile internet acecss methods, and its tried and true approach to 3G data works effectively. Rather than being offered as a sort of wired broadband replacement, the pricey services from Sprint and Verizon are seen as more of an office broadband augmented luxury rather than a way to replace the home DSL service to which users have grown accustomed. EV-DO gets the job done in the mobile broadband department, and currently its what I use when I'm on the road (although through a tethered phone). However, take note of the 5GB download cap per month. If you're planning to use this as your primary connection and are any sort of power user, 5GB gets eaten up pretty quickly.

HSDPA / UMTS / EDGE

Providers: AT&T and T-Mobile
Maximum throughput speed:
HSDPA: 3.6 Mbps dowload, 1.2 Mbps upload
UMTS: 700 Kbps download, 500 Kbps upload
EDGE: 384 Kbps download, 236 Kbps upload
Provider bandwidth caps: AT&T: 5GB
T-Mobile: nonePricing:
$60 for HSDPA / UMTS on AT&T

$49.99 for EDGE / HSDPA (coming soon) on T-Mobile


Though it's coming late to the game, 3G connection through AT&T and T-Mobile could end up being more appealing than EV-DO. The primary reason? Speed. EV-DO isn't seeing nearly as much speed increase as HSDPA and UMTS. However, the biggest problem with current implementations by AT&T and T-Mobile is that the network coverage is rather spotty. EV-DO access stretches nearly nationwide, and Sprint and Verizon have roaming agreements on each others' networks, meaning there are few EV-DO deadspots. HSDPA and UMTS, however, started rolling out slowly after EV-DO, and haven't yet caught up. In fact, T-Mobile literally just started rolling out its 3G network in August 2008, and its technology isn't cross compatible with AT&T's technology, due to some differences in implementation -- meaning T-Mobile and AT&T high-speed users can't roam on each other's networks for increased coverage.

HSDPA and UMTS are in their infancy still, so if you're in an area (or travelling frequently to an area) with good mobile broadband coverage with UMTS / HSDPA and are looking for higher speeds than EV-DO, it might be worth a look. However, do some coverage area research before plunking down the cash. Be aware that the 5GB download cap still applies, too.

WiMAX

Provider
Sprint XOHM
Maximum throughput speed:
5 Mbps download, 2.6 Mbps upload
Provider bandwidth caps:
No caps on bandwidth
Pricing:
$35 / month for "home"
$45 / month for "on the go"
$65 / month for combo
$10 / single day access

The least widespread but most exciting high-speed data technology is WiMAX. While currently it's only deployed using Sprint's XOHM network in Baltimore, this up and coming technology shows the most forward looking promise of any of the cellular data options. Currently, the throughput speeds are around 5 Mbps, but WiMAX has a forward looking approach that'll have higher speeds as the netowrk continues to be deployed. Remember those 5GB bandwidth caps of UMTS/ HSDPA and EV-DO? WiMAX doesn't have them. Sprint says the real story behind WiMAX is the capacity story, rather than the high-speed story, in that the architecture behind WiMAX allows providers to more efficiently manage the network, thereby allowing people to use it as their primary internet access method. Sprint's bargain basement pricing for the Baltimore-exclusive WiMAX rollout looks very inviting, however those of us outside of 'Monument City' will be stuck waiting for WiMAX rollouts nationwide over the next few years.

Other notes

Getting online with cellular data means you'll have to meet a couple of requirements. For starters, you'll have to have a semi-modern laptop that has at minimum a USB port, but most of the providers also offer solutions using ExpressCard. For PC users, that means you'll need to have a system that has either an available USB port or ExpressCard 34 slot (the skinny kind, pictured left). For Mac users, MacBooks only have USB ports, while the MacBook Pro has an ExpressCard 34 slot as well as a USB port.

Some laptops, like many in Sony's Vaio series, include built-in mobile broadband without having to plug in an external device. These notebooks will work with a specific network type, and you'll have to contact your provider to figure out how to sync up the laptop with the network.

Also, while we're mainly focusing on adding broadband to laptops, many of the service providers listed also offer some form of "tethering" to cell phones, meaning your phone turns into the modem. Often times these plans are less expensive than the plans we've outlined above, but you'll again have to check with your provider to see if your phone is compatible.

INTEL WIMAX CORE i7 CHIP

Intel senior vice president Anand Chandrasekher, speaking Monday at IDF, said that Intel will collaborate with Ericsson for High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) data modules for the Moorestown platform. WiMax is also supported, but it faces stiff competition from entrenched wireless technologies and may not be compelling enough to rise above the fray.

In addition to WiMax and HSPA, other wireless technologies including WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, and mobile TV will be supported on Moorestown, Intel said.

Moorestown is a system-on-a-chip (SOC) comprised of "Lincroft," which integrates a 45-nanometer processor, graphics, memory controller, and video encode/decode onto a single chip. It also includes an "I/O hub" code-named Langwell that supports connection to wireless, storage, and display components.

Intel was also showing a number of slides that detail its upcoming Nehalem i7 processor and the accompanying X58 chipset. Intel said last week that Nehalem is shipping now and is due to be officially rolled out in November.

The i7 will initially appear as a quad-core processor and feature QuickPath Interconnect--a high-speed chip-to-chip communications technology--and "Turbo Boost," which had been referred to previously as "Turbo Mode." This is essentially a switch that turns off unused processor cores and then uses the remaining active cores more efficiently.

In Taipei, Intel also delineated the differences between Atom-based "Nettop" desktops and more mainstream desktop PCs. Intel is trying to promote Nettops for Web browsing, word processing, e-mail, and "legacy" games. Anything more taxing than these basic applications is not recommended for Nettops.

Intel Core i7 and x58 chipset features

Intel Core i7 and x58 chipset features.

(Credit: Intel)

Intel Atom-based Nettop desktop

Intel Atom-based Nettop desktop.

(Credit: Intel)

Monday, November 24, 2008

WIMAX TRANSMISSION POWER

As designers turn their attention to mobile WiMAX devices, they are quickly learning that there are some specific design challenges regarding power amplifiers. For Wave 2 mobile WiMAX products, the mobile device needs to efficiently deliver +23 dBm output power with high linearity from a 3.3 VDC supply.
Managing power in mobile WiMAX is quickly shaping up to be vitally important as first-generation designs are tested and deployed. One of the challenges of designing for mobile WiMAX is its long range, since WiMAX networks typically achieve coverage of about 1 km per cell.
To achieve these ranges, WiMAX must have an optimized power profile—from the base station right down to the components in the mobile device. High transmit power, then, is important. But how high can WiMAX go and what are the limitations imposed by regulatory bodies, technological limits, and usage models?
Designers of the power amplifier (PA) and those selecting PAs need to find the optimal balance between high power and high efficiency in order to ensure robust links, high data rates, and good range for their WiMAX services.
The nature of WiMAXWhat makes WiMAX challenging for designers is that it is an access technology with a unique set of constraints. As a result, power amplification circuits that were used for cellular or Wi-Fi applications cannot simply be dropped into WiMAX designs and tweaked to perform adequately.
In many ways, WiMAX can be considered a hybrid technology because it shares aspects of both cellular and Wi-Fi networks. Mobile WiMAX is very similar to cellular; it is meant to be used in highly mobile devices and it uses licensed frequency bands (so users expect high reliability). It also employs transmit power control techniques, much like CDMA cellular does.
However, it differs from cellular because it operates at much higher data rates (resulting in more stringent linearity requirements) and must simultaneously handle voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), data, and video transmissions. Managing the bandwidth and priority of transmission for these types of services requires a quality of service (QoS) component that is not required for mobile voice alone.
On the other hand, WiMAX is also similar to Wi-Fi. For instance, it offers high data rates, uses orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with modulations from BPSK to 64-QAM, and is an all-IP-based network.
However, it differs from Wi-Fi because it uses a fully-scheduled service, unlike the collision-based carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) technique used by Wi-Fi. This gives WiMAX a significant advantage over Wi-Fi.
As the number of users increases in a CSMA network, overall capacity drops dramatically since each collision requires a subsequent retransmission. With a scheduled service, overall network capacity is unaffected as the number of users increases, since the basestation manages each user's access to the network efficiently.

WiMAX network coverageWi-Fi networks typically cover ranges that are measured in the tens or hundreds of meters for each access point (AP). However, WiMAX networks will achieve coverage of about 1 km per BS. In order to achieve this, mobile WiMAX networks employ a number of techniques to achieve longer range, including high transmit power, subchannelization, and adaptive modulation.
Simply put, RF power translates directly into range, so higher power equals longer range. To achieve long range, WiMAX basestations transmit at power levels of approximately +43dBm (20W), as compared to Wi-Fi APs, which typically transmit at +18 dBm (60 mW).
A WiMAX mobile station (MS) typically transmits at +23 dBm (200mW), as compared to +18 dBm (60 mW) for Wi-Fi. Cellular (CDMA) transmit powers for both the BS and MS are similar to those used in WiMAX.
However, because WiMAX uses much higher modulation orders to achieve higher throughput, WiMAX requires a much better SNR than cellular. For the mobile transmitter, high modulation orders require a PA with much better linearity and greatly complicates PA design compared to GSM or CDMA.
You might notice that there is a large difference (approximately 20 dB) between downlink power (from the BS to the MS) and uplink power (from the MS to the BS), so mobile WiMAX networks are severely uplink limited (this is also the case for cellular networks, of course).
This means that, while a mobile can easily receive transmissions from a BS, the mobile's relatively low transmit power makes it difficult for the BS to hear it.
One way to combat this mismatch is by using a technique called subchannelization, where only a subset of all of the available subchannels is used for any particular user.
In effect, each mobile concentrates its power over a smaller range of frequencies, and the net signal gain is 10*log(Ntotal/Nused), where Nused is the number of subcarriers assigned to the user, and Ntotal is the total number of subcarriers available.
For example, if a user is assigned one subchannel made up of 24 subcarriers, the net gain that is achieved relative to the BS that is transmitting on all 841 allocated subcarriers is 10*log(841/24)=15.4 dB. The other subcarriers are made available to other users, and they can use these simultaneously.
Another technique to address the link imbalance is adaptive modulation. In this case, the mobile transmits using a lower order modulation compared to the BS. For example, the mobile could transmit QPSK or 16QAM signals, while the BS transmits using 64QAM.
Because the SNR required to receive QPSK or 16QAM is lower than 64QAM, using a lower order modulation allows the MS to communicate with the BS using less transmit power (although uplink throughput is reduced, since fewer bits are transmitted per subcarrier with lower order modulation).
For example, the SNR required for QPSK-1/2 is 5 dB as compared to 10.5 dB for 16QAM-1/2 and 20 dB for 64QAM-3/4 modulation1. If the MS transmits with QPSK, the BS can tolerate 5.5 dB more link loss than with 16QAM.
When sub-channelization and adaptive modulation are combined, a network operator can effectively balance the uplink and downlink budgets, and the network will operate bi-directionally.
The downside is that when these techniques are used, the uplink throughput will be lower than the downlink throughput; subchannelization limits the number of subcarriers available for mobile transmission, and lower order modulation means that fewer bits are transmitted on each available subcarrier.

Power profile of a mobile WiMAX cellWith all of the above explanations in mind, let's examine what the transmit power profile looks like across a WiMAX cell. A common misconception is that mobile stations transmit at maximum power only at the edge of a cell, and at lower power when mobiles are closer to the BS. In reality, this is not the case; mobile stations will transmit at high powers over a range of distances.
To understand why this is the case, consider a mobile device moving from the edge of the cell directly towards the BS. When it is at the extreme cell edge, path loss will be very large, so the mobile device will be transmitting at maximum power with the most robust modulation.
As a result, uplink data rates will be relatively low. However, with the high MS transmit power and robust modulation, the BS will be able to receive transmissions from the MS, and the link is sound.
As the mobile moves closer to the BS, path loss decreases. The signal level at the BS increases, and the SNR improves, since the received signal is now farther above the noise floor.
In response, the BS may instruct the mobile to start reducing power (to minimize potential for interference between different mobile stations). However, as soon as the signal level supports a higher order modulation, the BS will instruct the mobile to switch modulations in order to increase overall network capacity.
Going back to our example comparing QPSK and 16QAM, suppose a transmitter operates at +23 dBm and it just achieves the 5 dB SNR required for QPSK when it is at the edge of the cell. As is moves closer to the BS, path loss drops, and the BS may ask the MS to reduce its transmit power.
However, as soon as the path loss has decreased by 5.5 dB, the BS will instruct the MS to switch to 16QAM-1/2, and will increase transmit power back to +23 dBm, since the MS will now be able to achieve a 10.5 dB SNR. Therefore, a mobile will typically transmit at higher powers until it is close enough to the BS to achieve 16QAM operation (or even 64QAM in many instances), at which point power is reduced. This is shown in Figure 1.
Click here for Figure 1.Figure 1: Achievable modulation versus distance with +23 dBm transmit power.




Figure 1 was derived using parameters from a WiMAX Forum whitepaper2. It shows the modulation that is achievable as a function of distance from the BS. We use the parameters in the whitepaper, so, for example, maximum available path loss is calculated assuming a 10 MHz channel bandwidth at 2.5 GHz, with 3 subchannels, and 10 dB penetration loss.
In calculating the path loss, we have assumed a COST231 suburban model at 2.5 GHz with 32 m BS height and 1.2m MS height. This analysis has assumed the presence of slow (lognormal) fading, but is somewhat simplified, since we assume a fixed 5.5 dB fade margin.
In reality, of course, fading is a random process, and closed loop power control will be used to help mitigate its effects. However, for the sake of this analysis, the conclusions are valid, as fading will simply blur the boundaries between the different modulations.
Note that the red ring, labeled QPSK-1/8 represents QPSK-1/2 modulation with a repetition factor of 4. This is the most robust modulation scheme, and it can be seen that it is indeed required at maximum range.
In our analysis, we calculate that with +23 dBm transmit power, an MS must use QPSK-1/8 for mobiles from 0.9 km to 1.35km from the BS. At closer distances, the MS is able to use higher order modulations, and network capacity is therefore increased.
For example, the MS is able to use 16QAM-1/2 modulation at distances from 0.45 to 0.6 km from the BS. Since 16QAM-1/2 modulation transmits 2 bits per symbol, while QPSK-1/8 transmits only 0.5 bits per symbol, one can see that the throughput in the green ring is 4 times higher than in the red ring.
We can also estimate the required transmit power as a function of range. At the edge of each of the zones in Figure 1, the MS will be transmitting at maximum power. It will decrease its transmit power as it moves towards the BS, until it has sufficient power to achieve the next modulation order.
At this time, it will increase transmit power again to maximize capacity.
Figure 2 shows the expected transmit power as a function of distance, showing the impact of adaptive modulation. It can be seen that transmit power is significantly reduced only once the maximum modulation order has been achieved, which in this case is 64QAM-3/4.
Click here for Figure 2.Figure 2:

Transmit power versus distance from basestation.
If the maximum modulation order was instead 16QAM-3/4, then the transmit power would be monotonically reduced once the 16QAM-3/4 rate was achieved.
It should be noted that the presence of fading will result in significant changes to this curve. In a real-life fading environment, additional margin may be required to counteract fading effects, and one would expect that transmitting at maximum power would occur less frequently.
However, the overall trend shown in Figure 2 is correct, and shows that mobile stations will be required to transmit at high powers not only at the cell edges, but also at much closer distances in order to achieve higher-order modulation.

Benefits of high powerThe benefits of higher power transmission from the mobile WiMAX terminal are significant. Consider the effect of increasing the transmit power by 40%, from +23 dBm (200mW) to +24.5 dBm (281 mW). First, it would require a larger power amplifier (PA). Assuming that losses after the PA are 1 dB, the output power from the PA must increase from 250 mW (+24 dBm) to 355mW (+25.5 dBm).
There are two benefits to transmitting at higher power. First, transmitting at this higher output power increases the maximum range. Using parameters from the WiMAX Forum 3, maximum mobile to BS distance is increased from 1.35 to 1.5 km when the output power is increased from 23 to 24.5 dBm, so that the overall coverage area increases by 23.5%.
In principle, one might expect that a network operator could deploy 23 percent fewer base stations, and realize a cost savings. However, this effect may be of only limited benefit, since many networks will have been designed with cell sizes assuming +23 dBm uplink transmit power, so cell sizes may already be fixed.
The second benefit is more significant, however. If an MS is able to transmit at higher power, then it can achieve the SNR required for higher order modulation when it is further from the BS. This improves overall network capacity, so increases overall spectral efficiency.
Figure 3 shows the modulation that is achievable as a function of distance from the BS with +24.5 dBm transmit power.
Click here for Figure 3.Figure 3:
Achievable modulation versus distance with +24.5 dBm transmit power.
In this figure, we again plot achievable modulation as a function of distance from the BS (and the dashed lines show the ranges for +23 dBm from Figure 1 for reference). Note that the maximum distance has increased from 1.35 to 1.5 km, as discussed above.
However, it is more important to note that users can now achieve higher order modulations over a wider range. For example, for 16QAM-1/2 modulation the maximum range is now 0.7 km, versus 0.6 km for +23 dBm.
As a result, each user will achieve higher throughput over a wider range, and the network aggregate capacity will be increased accordingly. With every additional user who can transmit at a higher power level, overall network capacity increases.
It is important to understand that all users would need to transmit at a higher transmit power in order to allow cell sizes to expand. However, each and every higher power user added to the network increases overall network capacity.
Finally, it is relatively straightforward to calculate the capacity increase seen by increasing transmit power from +23 to +24.5 dBm. We know how many bits per symbol can be transmitted for each modulation scheme, and we know the relative areas that can be covered for each modulation scheme, for both power levels.
When this information is used to calculate relative capacity, we find that it increases by 24% when transmit power is increased from +23 dBm to +24.5 dBm.
Even if the maximum cell size remains fixed at 1.35km when the transmit power is increased to +24.5 dBm (as would be the case if networks were rolled out assuming +23 dBm devices) the capacity still increases by 18% when devices are able to transmit at higher power.
Limitations of powerSo, now we understand why higher transmit power is important in a WiMAX network; it allows overall network throughput to increase, and in a 'greenfield' deployment, it would allow for larger cell sizes, and therefore reduce deployment costs.
So why not transmit even more power? There are three important factors that limit our ability to transmit at higher power: PA efficiency, available supply voltage, and regulatory requirements.
PA efficiencyIn PAs, efficiency is the measure of the RF power out versus the DC power in. For example, if a PA has a 10 percent efficiency, it would consume 3.55 W to transmit at +25.5dBm (355 mW). If the PA efficiency could be doubled to 20 percent, then the peak power consumption drops to 1.7W.
Today's state-of-the-art WiMAX PAs, like SiGe Semiconductor's SE7262, operate with >20 percent efficiency (See sidebar Why is PA efficiency so low for WiMAX?.)
The PA efficiency has a direct impact on battery life for mobile devices. Of course, the PA is not working all of the time, so the average power consumption will be considerably lower than the peak power consumption quoted above.
For instance, transmit duty cycles for WiMAX devices are typically about 40 percent when the MS has data to transmit. Therefore the average power consumption for a 20 percent efficiency PA will be about 680 mW if the PA is transmitting at maximum power.
Furthermore, often there will be no data to transmit, and in this case, the device will transmit very infrequently (essentially, it transmits only ranging messages to let the BS know that it is still in the cell).
In the end, however, the PA power consumption can have a significant impact on battery life, and it is important that PA efficiency is as high as possible.
Available supply voltageMobile WiMAX devices will be powered directly from the mobile station's battery, and battery supply voltages vary significantly during use. When freshly charged, the battery will operate at about 4.8V.
The supply voltage drops as the battery discharges, and the minimum practical supply voltage before the device shuts down is typically 2.7V. Most manufacturers want to use the battery for as much of this range as possible, and therefore specify that the power amplifier must faithfully deliver fully rated power at 3.3V (and occasionally 3.0 V).
Delivering high power under these conditions imposes some significant challenges. As most circuit designers know, a low supply voltage requires a high current, which implies a very low output impedance. Consequently, matching the low impedance PA output to a 50 Ohm antenna is difficult to achieve.
If higher output powers are required, the impedance becomes even lower, and it becomes increasingly difficult to achieve a good broadband match between the PA and the antenna.
Regulatory requirementsRegulatory requirements also place a serious constraint on how much power a PA can deliver. An ideal linear PA produces only the original frequency from the input signal. In real-world implementations, PA non-linearities introduce new frequencies through intermodulation distortion (IMD), and these out-of-band signals can interfere with users in adjacent channels (referred to as spectral regrowth or spectral leakage).
Regulatory bodies have imposed strict regulations on the amount of power that can be emitted out of band. For example, for mobile devices in the 2.5GHz band, the FCC specifies4 that the emissions must be below -25 dBm/MHz, measured 5.5MHz outside the device's assigned band.
Since this limit is an absolute power measurement, as output power is increased, more and more rejection of out-of-band emissions is required, and the power amplifier must be made more and more linear.
For example, when transmitting at +23 dBm with a 10 MHz channel bandwidth, achieving -25 dBm/MHz requires a net rejection of 23-10log(10)+25=38 dB rejection. Transmitting at 24.5 dBm requires 39.5 dB rejection.
Therefore, it becomes increasingly difficult to meet regulatory requirements as output power is increased. To reduce IMD distortion, the PA must operate more linearly, and the result is that PA efficiency will drop as the output power target is increased.
Recognizing the Tradeoffs Undoubtedly, higher transmit power is important for mobile WiMAX networks. Networks are currently being deployed specifying that the minimum transmit power is +23 dBm.
Each user who enters a network transmitting at powers greater than +23 dBm increases overall network efficiency. However, delivering higher transmit powers comes at a cost to power consumption. As a result, power amplifier efficiency becomes more important as higher output powers are used.

Friday, November 14, 2008

GLOBAL WIMAX EQUIPMENTS SALES



The WiMAX Research Service includes WiMAX licenses, trials and deployments by 530 companies in 134 countries. As of Q3 2008, we covered:

  • 126 commercially operating WiMAX networks
  • 112 WiMAX networks under construction
  • 91 WiMAX field trials
  • 193 WiMAX licensees
The WiMAX Research Service includes global WiMAX licenses, trials and deployments, by country and by service provider. For each trial and deployment, we track:
  • Operator
  • Frequency
  • Launch date
  • Technology (802.16-2004, 802.16-e)
  • Equipment vendor
  • Contract date
  • Network coverage
  • Subscribers
  • Equipment vendors
WiMAX Equipment Vendor Market Share (Oct 2008)



If you want more detailed information periodic you can order TeleGeography's quarterly WiMax Market Review.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

THE BEST OF WIMAX WORLD EMEA 2008 AWARDS

xchange and Trendsmedia presented the Best of WiMAX World EMEA 2008 Awards to six distinguished recipients at the 2008 WiMAX World Conference & Expo on May 20, in Munich, Germany. The annual awards recognize the leaders in the development and deployment of WiMAX technologies.

Nominations were open to exhibitors, sponsors and speakers of the WiMAX World EMEA Conference & Expo, held May 19-21 in Munich, Germany. Winners and Industry Choice finalists were selected by a judging panel of experts from the WiMAX community. The Industry Choice winner was determined by an on-site vote among conference delegates, and represents the company they view as having made the most significant contribution to the WiMAX community this year.

All winners were recognized during a special ceremony following the close of the first day’s convention sessions. Berge Ayvazian, conference co-chair and chief strategy officer for Yankee Group, and Mike Saxby, group publisher of xchange, presented the awards in six categories. In addition, the Best of WiMAX World EMEA 2008 Award recipients will be featured in the July issue of xchange.

The winners and Industry Choice finalists were selected by an independent judging panel, including Craig Mathias, principal, Farpoint Group; Will Strauss, principal analyst, Forward Concepts; Adlane Fellah, CEO and founder, Maravedis Inc.; Caroline Gabriel, lead research analyst, Rethink Research; Philip Marshall, vice president of enabling technologies, Yankee Group; and representatives from xchange and Trendsmedia.

And the winners are .
INDUSTRY CHOICE

Redline Communications RedMAX 4C Mobile WiMAX

INDUSTRY INNOVATION

picoChip PC6530 Single Chip System Reference Design for WiMAX Femtocell

SYSTEM DESIGN

Fujitsu BroadOne WX300 Macrocell WiMAX Base Station

SERVICE PROVIDER DEPLOYMENT

Netia WiMAX Deployment in Poland

DEVICES/PERIPHERALS/APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Comsys ExpressCard/34 PC Card Format Reference Design Platform

CHIP DESIGN

Sequans Communications SQN2130 ASIC-Based Reference Design for Mobile WiMAX Base Station

Saturday, September 6, 2008

WIMAX DEPLOYMENTS MAP FROM WIMAXFORUM

The WiMAX Forum has announced the launch of their Interactive Deployment Database, which has information on more than 300 WiMAX deployments around the world.The site is using Google Web Map based localization map and give you able to find results by searching 802.16.e, 802.16.d, All range frequencies ( 2.1 - 5.8Ghz ), Status ( Deployed, In Deployment, License Awarded etc ), Vendors ( from Alcatel, Alvarion, Airspan, Aperto etc ).

The new Interactive Deployment Database relies upon the WCIS database offered by Informa Telecoms, and focuses upon various WiMAX operators, providing the readers with the latest data regarding the WiMAX deployments that have been made worldwide. A link to the database has been provided at the homepage of the WiMAX forum, and can be accessed at www.wimaxmaps.org.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

SPRINT: SAMSUNG WIMAX READY

Sprint and Samsung today declared Mobile WiMax ready for commercial service. Sprint plans on launching commercial WiMax in Washington and Baltimore “later this year”.

Washington and Baltimore joined Chicago in a “soft rollout”, in which Sprint workers use and test the technology, a Sprint spokesman said last week. A Clearwire Mobile WiMax rollout is also planned, likely later this summer, in Portland, Oregon.

Despite today’s announcement about Washington and Baltimore, no commercial rollout projection for Chicago was mentioned. When asked about Chicago, a Sprint spokesman said “there will be further progress to report at another time.”

It’s a Motorola party in Chicago and Portland.

Sprint and Samsung said testing of overall performance, including successful wireless handoffs between cell towers without delay, had met Sprint’s “rigorous commercial acceptance criteria.” Testing was conducted in laboratories, as well as in the Baltimore-Washington area, the companies said.

Samsung has been working with Sprint since June 2007. There were lab tests, followed by field tests in October and then interoperability tests with “multiple” other device vendors in April.

Those devices included a Nokia’s WiMax tablet, a Samsung WiMax express card for laptops and a Zyxel WiMax modem. Intel has been developing chip sets for use in laptops and ultramobile PCs.

Clearwire is planning to move onto Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Grand Rapids, Mich., with mobile WiMax deployments after it launches in Portland, Ore., in the second half of this year, the company said during its first quarter earnings call this week. Clearwire ended the first quarter of 2008 with 443,000 users, up 72 percent on the previous year’s first quarter.

Maravedis forecasts WiMAX subscribers to exceed 100 million by 2014.

Meanwhile, there are more than 45 million cellular-based HSPA users worldwide, delivering consistent data rates in the range of 500 kbit/s to 1.5 Mbit/s, reports Unstrung. The GSM family will account for fully 89% of the global market in 2011, according to Gartner Inc. In the U.S., AT&T is a GSM provider, along with T-Mobile, which many believe will eventually announce intentions to support LTE and has launched AWS service in New York City.

Alltel has committed to LTE but any significant network upgrades are still three to five years out, the company said today. The No. 5 carrier has just over 13 million customers. Alltel is the second major CDMA carrier (after Verizon Wireless) to switch tracks and select LTE. Sprint, of course, is going the Mobile WiMAX route (and may get a 3-5 year lead over the competition).

Late to the party, AT&T and Verizon had to pay a premium for their spectrum, will wait years for LTE infrastructure, and could be left with scraps for their microwave backhaul.

It’s what I call the elephant in the room that nobody talks about,” explained Clearwire CTO John Saw, to Unstrung. “The backhaul is probably the highest cost of deploying the network… Anyone who wants to roll out a real wireless broadband network nationwide needs a cheaper solution.”

INTEL CENTRINO 2 CHIPSET

Intel has delayed the next generation “Montevina chipset until mind-July, with a formal launch in mid-August says PC Magazine. “Montevina” is the next-generation Centrino chipset, used in laptops and will include enhanced wireless capabilities with WiMAX and 802.11n.

The new laptop design was originally expected to be launched in a week. Montevina-based notebooks will be known as Intel Centrino 2.

Intel kicked off day two of its Spring IDF with some announcements about its next Centrino platform, codenamed Santa Rosa, and its successors.

As we all know by now, Santa Rosa is the 2007 Centrino platform, which will officially start shipping in May. Santa Rosa is composed of Intel's Core 2 Duo processor, the mobile Intel 965 Express chipset, Intel's Wireless-N networking, Intel's Gigabit Ethernet as well as optional Intel Turbo memory. The latter is now the official marketing name for Intel Robson technology, which is on-motherboard NAND flash memory that can be used by Vista to speed up the OS via ReadyBoost or ReadyDrive.

In the first half of 2008, Santa Rosa will get a refresh to support mobile Penryn processors. Currently Intel is only indicating updated processor support with the Santa Rosa refresh; the rest of the components may remain unchanged.

After the Santa Rosa refresh, also currently scheduled for 1H 2008, is the Montevina platform. Montevina will also support Penryn but it will be equipped with a mobile version of Intel's P35 chipset, codenamed Cantiga. Cantiga will bring about DDR3 memory support which may actually be attractive in notebooks due to lower power consumption. The real killer in Montevina is WiMAX support, which will hopefully enable very wide area wireless network access on notebooks in areas where there aren't localized 802.11 networks. Montevina will also bring updated Ethernet controllers and a second generation Robson technology.

The close proximity of the Santa Rosa refresh and Montevina launches does confuse us a bit, and we're skeptical of whether or not Intel will stick to this schedule. Two new Centrino platforms in a 6-month window just doesn't seem like a good idea.

The Centrino 2 “Cantiga” chipset, their integrated Intel graphics chip, is causing other delays. Intel has decided not release a chipset initially with Intel integrated graphics.

“There were two minor issues we found during final testing – one with our integrated graphic chipsets, which we have found a workaround for but need to re-screen our parts, and second around our wireless wi-fi chip, which was a paperwork and certification mistake we made,” said Bill Kircos, a spokesman for Intel, in an email to PC Magazine.

“Both of these led us to establishing a launch date for our mobile processors and discrete chipsets of the week of July 14th, and taking a couple of weeks to get the right readiness and volume for the rest of our components,” Kircos added. “We’re looking at early August for that.”

The Echo Peak wireless module will support both WiMAX and 802.11n technologies and will be available in prices ranging from US$43-54, depending on specifications. Meanwhile, the Shirley Peak module will support only 802.11n technology with prices between US$19-30.

However, regulatory delays also affected the Montevina chipset, according to Doug Freedman of American Technology Research, who published a report last Friday claiming that the chipset had suffered “hiccups,” as a “mis-step” in the FCC certification process would prevent the chipset from being sold within the U.S. Freedman also claimed that Montevina also suffered from errors within the integrated graphics portion of the chipset.

Freedman also wrote that it was possible that notebooks would ship with older 802.11a/b/g radios, instead of the newer 802.11n technology.

NORTEL AND ALVARION AGREEMENT

Nortel Networks now plans to focus on LTE, with WiMax products being dropped in favor of working with Alvarion for WiMAX products, the company announced today.

Nortel Networks has been a world-class leader in WiMAX, especially high-speed OFDMA and MIMO technology, but missed out on being a tier one provider for the big Sprint/Clearwire network, which is going with Motorola, Samsung and Nokia to execute their multi-billion dollar vision in the United States.

But the development of LTE (Long Term Evolution) has accelerated and Nortel’s expertise in COFDM and MIMO can largely be tranfered to that technology. Motorola says it will reuse 85 percent of their WiMax research in its LTE products.

Most major wireless carriers are skipping WiMax and planning to build out networks using LTE, which is a successor to current cellular technology.

Nortel’s WiMAX offering will combine Alvarion’s advanced radio access network technology with Nortel’s core network solutions, including backhaul, applications and professional services. Nortel’s network consulting, design and network management software will also be included.

Two group of vendors have announced patent-licensing plans recently, notes RCR News.

THE ROAD TO WIMAX TV

Despite the rise in popularity of user-generated videos and other "do-it-yourself" forms of content, when it comes to authentic revenue generation, broadcast television programming is still king. The revenue it generates, regardless of whether it is distributed via ad-supported, "free-to-air" broadcasting, pay television or any other model, dwarfs that of other content types. Telcos and other communications service providers looking to leverage their IP-based networks to offer video as part of subscriber packages recognize the necessity and huge appeal this type of content has in winning and maintaining an audience share.
Similarly, mobile operators are finding that broadcast programming is the key to thriving in an increasingly competitive landscape. As growth rates from pure voice traffic flatten, they are introducing data applications, not the least of which are videos of popular broadcast network programs. Hence "mobile TV" is already proving to be a promising ARPU generator for mobile operators, with several million subscribers to such services worldwide.
Beyond the ARPU increase, mobile distribution of broadcast programming offers such new business opportunities as targeted advertising models. It's not surprising that incumbent operators are investing in infrastructure to meet the consumer expectation for "content anywhere, any time on any device."
WiMAX is emerging as one of the most promising wireless networking technologies designed to meet this demand. However, broadcast-quality video is a bandwidth hog. As an IP-based network, WiMAX faces inherent scalability problems. Each new customer requires more bandwidth, connectivity sessions grow longer and applications such as video require ever more capacity. Serving thousands of such individual "unicast" streams becomes expensive, and there is a seemingly inevitable decline in quality of service at periods of peak demand.
One way to avoid these issues, and take full advantage of WiMAX to meet consumer demand and operator interests, is to implement hybrid broadcast/multicast architecture. This type of architecture is economically feasible because TV viewers tend to aggregate around "peak" viewing times: Despite the huge explosion in the amount of content now available on many networks and the inevitable fragmentation of audiences, in most markets, the bulk of TV audiences are largely served by five to ten major channels or networks.
This is true of fixed TV viewing and is likely to be the same with mobile, with the channels or networks meeting the demand for appropriately produced programming directed at commuting periods and other times in the day or week when mobile viewing is likely to be popular. A WiMAX TV broadcast/multicast solution enables operators to offer the most popular mobile programming at quality reception over predictable bandwidth and without any risk of congestion or contention during these peak-viewing periods.
In addition to nationwide or regional TV broadcasting, WiMAX TV also enables local content insertion and "micro-broadcasting" " the efficient delivery of content within restricted areas during popular sports events or concerts, or within airports, campuses or hospitals.
While viewing habits do tend to aggregate around certain predictable times, and audiences tend to gravitate en masse toward certain shows or programs, the portable nature of mobile TV means there will be a demand for individual streams and so-called niche or long-tailed content. Meeting this demand requires using a mix of broadcast, multicast and unicast technologies.
Typically, this is done by broadcasting the most popular TV channels on bandwidth that is set aside and efficiently managed through dynamic multiplexing. Other TV channels are multicast based on the demand in each particular cell, while interactive services and niche content are serviced over unicast links. How these various services are packaged and sold to the viewers will evolve over time as the market emerges.
Making this hybrid approach to mobile video delivery successful involves not just the use of a WiMAX network itself, but the implementation of an architecture specifically optimized for WiMAX-based mobile video delivery. It is this type of architecture that can transform a typical WiMAX network into a WiMAX TV network.
An optimized WiMAX TV architecture is based on the Multicast-Broadcast Services (MBS) specification, which is part of the Mobile WiMAX (802.16e) standard. MBS supported by Mobile WiMAX (802.16e) leverages the most successful features of such technologies as DVB-H, DVB-SH, MediaFLO and 3GPP E-UTRA. It offers high data rates and coverage using a Single Frequency Network (SFN); a flexible allocation of radio resources; low mobile-station power consumption; support for datacasting in addition to audio and video streams and fast channel-switching.
The Mobile WiMAX Release-1 profile defines a toolbox for initial MBS service delivery. The MBS service can be supported by either constructing a separate MBS zone in the DL frame along with unicast service (embedded MBS) or by dedicating the whole frame to MBS (DL only) for standalone broadcast service. MBS can be accessed when MS is in idle mode to allow low MS power consumption. The flexibility of Mobile WiMAX to support integrated MBS and unicast services enables a broader range of applications. [1]
As this architecture is fully IP-based, it enables operators to use standard network and headend components, as well as their existing terminal applications. A complete infrastructure overhaul or rebuild is not necessary. In addition, the architecture is scalable over a practically unlimited number of users, flexible in content trafficking, and centrally managed and monitored.
The Single Frequency Network (SFN) architecture brings an additional gain of several dBs in the radio channel, thus improving reception quality. "Time-slicing" technology, successfully implemented in DVB-H and other broadcast standards, increases the lifetime of the terminal's battery by receiving the content in short bursts, rather then continuously. The Inter-bursts Forward Error Correction (iFEC) " developed by UDcast -- ensures perfect video quality under difficult propagation conditions, making short reception blackouts totally invisible to end-customers, such as when they are passing under a bridge or tree.
While developing WiMAX TV architecture may not involve a heavy infrastructure upgrade, it is necessary to integrate software to manage the network's operations. UDcast has recently developed three software modules designed to meet this need including a WiMax TV Manager, which ensures the management of the entire WiMAX TV network, as well as the integration of the broadcast/multicast system with content sources, service protection and interactive services. Other software modules include the WiMAX TV ASN/MBS (Mobile Base Station) Module and the WiMAX TV Base Station Module. The MBS module implements the core functions of our WiMAX Multicast-Broadcast Service Controller and ensures the correct level of synchronization of the base stations for SFN operation, plus Inter-bursts Forward Error Correction (iFEC), intra-BS handover and content time-slicing. The WiMAX TV Base Station Module enforces SFN broadcasting and time-slicing and executes procedures for local content adaptation or injection, enabling geographically addressable content distribution.
These modules demonstrate that it is feasible to use WiMAX to deliver broadcast-quality programming to mobile devices. Harnessing the power of WiMAX to enable such a service offers numerous benefits to players across all segments of the industry. IP and telecom infrastructure providers, for example, can use it as revenue-generating extension of their existing WiMAX solutions. Similarly, broadcast TV providers can use it as an innovative WiMAX extension to their existing broadcast operations, or as a direct television distribution channel to the fast-growing community of WiMAX users.
Even though new applications and models won't be discovered until operators and other users began to implement WiMAX as a mobile video delivery tool, there are emerging applications and business models for WiMAX TV today. Many operators already have the existing network infrastructure to do this " they just need to embrace the technology in order to leverage it to its maximum, revenue-generating potential.

NOKIA 810 WIMAX EDITION RELEASED

The famous Nokia 810 WiMax Edition is released final.

Technical specifications

Size
* Weight: 8.06 oz
* Length: 2.83 in
* Width: 5.04 in
* Depth: 0.63 in
Display
* High-resolution 4.13” WVGA touch screen display (800 x 480 pixels) with up to 65,536 colors
Processor
* TI HS OMAP 2420, 400Mhz
Memory Functions
* DDR RAM 128MB
* Flash 256MB
Storage
* 2GB internal memory
* Support for compatible miniSD and microSD memory cards (with extender). Supports cards up to 8GB. (SD cards over 2GB must be SDHC compatible.)
Operating Times
* Battery: Nokia Battery BP-4L
* Music playback: up to 10 hours
* Standby time off-line: up to 14 days
WiMAX operation times*
* Standby. always online: up to 4 days
* Internet browsing time: up to 3 hours
Wi-Fi operation times*
* Standby, always online: up to 5 days
* Internet browsing time: up to 4 hours
*Operating times may vary depending on the radio access technology used, network configuration and usage. The availability of the product and its features depend on your area and service providers, so please contact them and your Nokia dealer for further information.
Other characteristics
* Smooth slide with integrated QWERTY keyboard
* Built-in GPS receiver
* High quality stereo speakers and sensitive microphone
* High-resolution widescreen touch display
* Integrated desk stand
* Integrated VGA web camera
* HW key to lock touch screen and keys
* Ambient light sensor
Connectivity
* WiMAX 802.16e / 2.5GHz
* WLAN standard: IEEE 802.11b/g
* Bluetooth specification v.2.0 . +EDR (profiles supported: HID, FTP, DUN, GAP, SPP, ,SAP and OPP)
* USB high speed for compatible PC connectivity
* 3.5 mm stereo headphone plug (Nokia AV Connector)
Language support
* QWERTY keyboard: English
* User interface languages: Danish, Dutch, English, British, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Brazilian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish
* User guide languages: British English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, American English, Brazilian Portuguese, Canadian French, Latin American Spanish, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Russian, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese, Arabic

Internet Tablet OS: maemo Linux based OS 2008 feature upgrade
General
* Seamless software update
* Seamless update functionality allows software updates over-the-air.
Web Browsing
* Browser powered by Mozilla with state-of-the-art web standard support including AJAX
* Page navigation with scrolling, panning or using hardware buttons, zooming in and out of web sites.
* Full desktop Adobe® Flash® 9 plugin, including video and audio streaming
Media
* In-built media player for viewing and listening to downloaded, transferred or streamed media content and easy-on-device management of media library
* Direct access to shared media over Universal Plug and Play (UPnP)
* Supported video formats: 3GP, AVI, WMV, H.263, H.264, MPEG-1, MPEG-4, RV (RealVideo)
* Supported audio formats: MP3, VMA, AAC, AMR, AWB, M4A, MP2, RA (RealAudio), WAV
* Supported playlist formats: M3U, PLS, ASX, WAX, WVX, WPL
Communications
* Internet messaging and calling with video
* Effortless and automated presence and contacts application for centralizing communication tasks
* SIP support and interoperability with industry standard services
Map
* Integrated GPS with pre-installed US and Canadian maps.
* Wayfinder turn-by-turn car navigation available on purchase.
* Car holder included in the sales pack
E-mail
* Browser access to familiar webmail services
* E-mail application with easy setup for personal e-mail usage with IMAP, STMP, and POP3 support
Images
* Full-screen image viewing and slideshow functionality
* Supported Image formats: BMP, GIF, ICO, JPE, JPEG, PNG, TIF/TIFF, SVG, Tiny, WBMP
RSS Reader
* Reader for subscribing, managing and keeping up-to date with web feeds
* Support for RSS 1.0/2.0 and Atom 1.0
Utilities
* File manager
* PDF reader
* Clock
* Games: chess, blocks, mahjong and marbles
* Backup and restore

http://www.nokiausa.com/A4952190

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

CASE STUDY BULGARIAN TELCO PIONEERS MOBILE "TRIPLE-PLAY" SERVICES OVER WIMAX

Max Telecom uses Navini Smart WiMAX and Cisco Carrier Ethernet solutions to deliver
nationwide mobile services.
Business Challenges Max Telecom entered the telecommunications market in Bulgaria just two and a half years ago and quickly established itself as a new-generation operator by adopting the latest network and business innovations and giving subscribers industry-leading services and capabilities. The “greenfield” company is garnering international attention with its nationwide network based on mobile WiMAX™ technology. The ambition of Max Telecom is to extend its modern, highly efficient network to the entire population of the country within the next few years. The aggressive build-out has challenged the company to select technology partners that can deliver the required hand-held devices as well as help Max Telecom deliver its vision of mobile access for all services.
The company currently offers Internet access, VPNs, voice services, video, and IPTV.
Having already selected Cisco® for the core network, Max Telecom evaluated radio vendors to determine the best possible foundation to meet its goal of delivering all services using mobile WiMAX. The company simultaneously evaluated all alternatives for an efficient access/aggregation solution. To shorten time to market and keep costs low, Max Telecom decided to lease parts of the network. A third-party provides Ethernet to the home (ETTH) for access to base stations in various cities, and Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) lines to connect its headquarters with the smaller cities. To build out the mobile access network, Max Telecom looked for base station equipment and an overall architecture that could scale aggressively and
help ensure security within its leased transport environment. The company aims to cover 90 percent of the 7.5 million residents of Bulgaria by the end of this year.



The major requirements for the base station selection and overall design included:
● Controlling capital expenses and operating expenses by minimizing cell counts and
improving in-building coverage. Evolving from fixed services (desktop modems, PCs) to mobile services (handheld and embedded devices) as new 802.16e wireless broadband devices become available
● Enabling a broad range of services for competitive differentiation and to gain market share Network Solutions Aiming to pioneer mobile WiMAX services, Max Telecom focused its selection process on a rigorous evaluation of the leading WiMAX technologies. The company identified Smart Beamforming as a breakthrough that could enable its aggressive goals. This led the operator to Navini, the global leader for broadband wireless access solutions. With an established relationship with Cisco, Max Telecom also had confidence in Cisco as a partner that could enable a fast deployment. (See Figure 1.)
Figure 1. The Max Telecom 802.16e WiMAX Network



Leading-edge WiMAX Navini Smart WiMAX combines both Smart Beamforming and beamformed multiple-input multipleoutput (MIMO) technologies, two advancements uniquely combined by Navini to push the capabilities of broadband wireless networks. The unique combination doubles the data throughput for mobile WiMAX, extends the range, and enhances the signal strength. By using both Smart Beamforming and MIMO technologies, Navini offers base station and smart antenna solutions that enable data transmissions at rates up to six times faster than other WiMAX solutions. Smart WiMAX also extends coverage. In many places where standard signals cannot be received, the enhanced beamformed MIMO signal has the power and performance to break through. The results
are better mobility, higher throughput rates, and better coverage both indoor and outside. The Navini technology also enables fewer cell sites while increasing overall network capacity. “In terms of technology, Navini was clearly the best for our WiMAX deployment,” says Kroum Manoilov, chief operating officer for Max Telecom. “Now that Navini has been acquired by Cisco, we feel even better about the solution. Cisco and Navini have extensive worldwide deployment experience, and we have relied on their knowledge of the WiMAX space to help us meet our fastpaced rollout of mobile services.”
Smart WiMAX service has enabled Max Telecom to begin rolling out mobile services. The
company offers fixed and nomadic services today, and will enhance mobility when IEEE 802.16ecompliant CPE and hand-held devices are available in early 2008. Max Telecom has already built out more than 150 base stations and introduced fixed and nomadic WiMAX service to more than 10 cities.
Cisco Aggregation
The WiMAX network officially went live in October 2007, allowing transfer speeds of up to 2 megabits per second (Mbps). Max Telecom plans to increase that rate to 5 Mbps in early 2008. To aggregate traffic from the base stations, the operator decided to use Ethernet over Multiprotocol Label Switching (EoMPLS) and Hierarchical Virtual Private LAN Service (H-VPLS). This Carrier Ethernet solution allows Max Telecom to efficiently and securely tunnel all WiMAX traffic over the leased transport connections.
Max Telecom selected the Cisco Catalyst® 3750 Metro Ethernet switch for aggregating base station traffic. The Cisco Catalyst 3750 nodes are connected to Cisco 7600 Series routers (over the EoMPLS/H-VPLS network) for a complete aggregation solution. With greater intelligence at the edge, the Cisco Catalyst 3750 metro switches enable more differentiated Ethernet services and give Max Telecom hierarchical quality of service (QoS), traffic shaping, intelligent 802.1Q tunneling, VLAN mapping, and EoMPLS support. This robust feature set helps Max Telecom offer different service-level agreements (SLAs) and flexible service options.
End-to-End Solution Cisco and Navini products provide a complete mobile WiMAX solution for Max Telecom. The open, flexible design can accommodate Access Service Network (ASN) gateways as the mobile service subscriber base grows, and a full suite of features help to differentiate the carrier from the competition. End-to-end QoS, over-the-air activation, and self-provisioning contribute to a costeffective
business model and enable a growing portfolio of services.

Business Results WiMAX has fulfilled its promise and enabled Max
Telecom to rapidly and cost-effectively achieve national coverage. The Navini and Cisco solutions have created the WiMAX foundation for mobile services, and put Max Telecom in an enviable position for service innovations. As soon as mobile equipment vendors introduce new handsets and other devices, Max Telecom can give subscribers
anytime, anywhere voice over IP (VoIP) and IPTV as well as the full suite of other broadband services. The new network gives the operator a build-as-they-grow solution, with the current plans for expanding capacity for up to 100,000 subscribers by the end of 2008. To compete against larger DSL and cable players, Max Telecom has also adopted an aggressive wholesale strategy. The operator is developing relationships with LAN service providers, and will pass through its voice and other services that can be bundled with the data services from these providers. The 802.16e WiMAX network enables this business, and is also enabling Max Telecom to expand its “tripleplay”
business by teaming up with a Bulgarian satellite TV provider to bring more content to subscribers. Within the first few months after deploying the new mobile WiMAX solution, the results are promising:
● Capital expenses will come down from about US$430 per potential subscriber to less than
US$200 within three years.
● Data subscribers are expected to grow from less than 10,000 to between 50,000 and
100,000 by the end of 2008 (depending on the availability of mobile WiMAX devices).
● Scalable capacity can support more services, with plans in place for creative service
bundles. For example, Max Telecom plans to bundle mobile VoIP and broadband.
● The low operating expenses achieved with the WiMAX solution will enable differentiating
services including a free TV service (MaxTV), rebranded Google applications (mobile
MaxApps), and a mobile e-mail service (MaxMail).
“Cisco has helped us establish a very strong market position,” says Manoilov. “We have hit all of our schedule targets and are confident that our WiMAX network can help us bring exceptional service quality to our subscribers. The combination of Navini WiMAX and Cisco Carrier Ethernet technologies put us ahead of the incumbent providers and other competitors.”
For More Information To find out more about Cisco Carrier Ethernet solutions, go to: www.cisco.com/go/cedesign.
To find out more about the Navini WiMAX solutions, go to: www.cisco.com/go/wimax.

Friday, May 9, 2008

WIMAX SERVICE TARIFF PLANNING

Recently read that how you can plan your WiMax internet service tariff plans. You can go to few different ways to how to calculate it most affordable for your customers.

The per-line $ cost of WiMax is totally differrent from the Per-Line$ cost of ADSL. Yes, ADSL Costs have been recovered over 10's of years, and you dont have that much time for break-even, but WiMax per capita Capex is also very low.
- Make a 3 year model on the Capex recovery with 3 scenarios - Conservative, Realistic and Optimistic. Each model will have projected number of subscribers - at various price points. this will give you 2-3 key data points on which model looks most realist.
Once the data is right in front of you, just take a 20% dip in bandwidth costs over every year, and build data price.
Carriers also optimise throughput by reducing throttle bandwidth. Access might be 54mbps, but bandwidth is rarely close to that number, that can further optimise the OpEx.

Add a Delta of recovery exp - 20% - 40% of Opex. and see if the number is helpful.
The other disruptive way of doing it is - take a ridiculusly low price, say in a market which has 40$ per year fee, take 10$ per year. build projections on network, opex and subscribers - you might be surprised on the results.

WiMax for starter as you understand is far superior tech compared to ur adsl or other existing techs on the price front here the method i will apply to determine the price
1.what is total CAPEx involment with project (like 360 Wimax tower and other infrastructure required),
next is what is cost acquire the Bandwidth for delivery through the last mile (in this case Wimax)
now you have to price the product so that your not making loss on whole thing plus add profit in

2.Now,Bcoz ur using the the newest tech u hav many advantages over old legacy techs ,deployment is cheaper
like if u hav 360 tower u can very much cover a area of 25sq km

3.on the price there could be synergy be a premium player as ur tech is the best,target the niche market
and ask for premium payout or target the mass market and price it below asdl player and get get
paid by driving the volume and creating new market of users(this is what Indian mobile players did!)
on the pricing a lot will depend on the sourcing of your infrastructure and bandwidth.
Amortization of the cost of bandwidth + cost of BTS + cost of CPE + Marginal opex cost

Example -
- BTS (360 coverage) capacity - 'x' mbps
Wimax POP/ BTS(360 Coverage) Costs "y"
Per kbps cost = (x * 1024) / y

- Cost of CPE (if on Right to use/ Bundled model)
- CAPEX (network hardware, switching architecture, Tower, backhaul)
- Bandwidth cost - (shared model costing - typical to what ADSL does)
take all these into consideration and align your foretasted numbers with minimal margins in place to start with.

Tarrif models could have multiple variants.
To cover the capex spent on WIMAX
- One time Service charges - covers cost of CPE (if provided on rental)
- Recurring Wireless access charges - (Covers per kbps bandwidth usage cost & maintenance)

Bandwidth
- Clean bandwidth / bundled with CPE - High premium
- 1:4 , min and max throughput / bundled with CPE -

You can keep on subsidizing the price after adding bundles like VOIP and internet telephony.

Friday, April 11, 2008

SPRINT'S XOHM WIMAX SUPPORTED LAPTOP


Debuting today at CTIA 2008, the Cloudbook MAX not only boasts an 8.9-inch WVGA (1,024 x 600) display, Windows Vista, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth, integrated GPS receiver, 2-megapixel webcam and a battery good for four hours, but it also features an 80GB HDD, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, audio in / out and an S-Video output. Beyond all that, this thing gets energized by a 1.6GHz VIA C7-M ULV processor coupled with the VX800 digital media IGP chipset, which touts full DirectX 9 support and video acceleration for MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV9, VC1 and DivX video formats (plus a VMR-capable HD video processor, among other things). Lastly, the unit includes built-in support for Sprint's XOHM WiMAX network. Brimming with excitement yet? Start stocking that piggy bank -- this currently unpriced rig will be available in the latter half of this year across North America.

Read - VIA and Everex demonstrate Cloudbook MAX at CTIA
Read - VIA VX800 Series Chipset


NOKIA N810 WIMAX INTERNET TABLET IS READY?



Nokia has showed their WiMax future N810 WiMax enabled tablet in CTIA 2008 conference, looks like it is getting official WiMax enabled ready for market of Nokia. Their main target is start to sell it in the most deployed WiMax network country USA for this summer. Beyond that, you'll notice the familiar 4.13-inch touchscreen, slide-out QWERTY keyboard and even a built-in webcam for video calls, Mozilla-powered browser, integrated GPS / media player, 2GB of internal memory and a microSD expansion slot. Heck, Nokia even touts this thing's ability to "access the Internet over WiFi or via conventional cellular data networks by pairing to a compatible mobile phone via Bluetooth technology." Also announced today is the freshly updated OS2008, which includes an enhanced e-mail client, support for Chinese character rendering in the browser and RSS feeds and "Seamless Software Update functionality" to boot. Needless to say, said OS will come standard on the currently unpriced Nokia N810 WiMAX Edition -- which is scheduled to land wherever WiMAX connectivity is available -- but existing N810 / N800 owners will also get the OS upgrade free of charge in Q2.




SIEMENS GIGASET SERIES RELEASING NEW EXPRESS CARD



Siemens putting the new card of their GIGASET WIMAX series products. The Gigaset SE68 WiMAX is based on the IEEE 802.16-2005 standard and complies with Wave 2 specifications (including MIMO A / B), supports beamforming and has actually been demonstrated as functional way over in Singapore. With a network in place, users can expect mobile broadband speeds of up to 20Mbps, and while no price is given, you can just circle the entire summer of 2008 in anticipation of its arrival.

MOBILE WIMAX DEPLOYMENT ALTERNATIVES

Traditionally, cellular deployments were based solely on achieving ubiquitous coverage with little consideration for capacity requirements. Since the only services offered were voice and the market was uncertain, this was a very reasonable approach. Moreover, the voice service offering is a low data rate application enabling traditional cellular networks to achieve wide outdoor and indoor coverage with a low data rate network (~10-15 kbps bandwidth depending on type of vocoder). As the customer base grew and more services offered, additional base stations were deployed and/or channels added to existing base stations to meet the growing capacity requirements. With Mobile WiMAX, however, operators will want to offer a wide range of broadband services with Quality-of-Service (QoS) support. To meet customer expectations for these types of services it will be necessary to predetermine capacity requirements and deploy accordingly at the outset. Careful deployment planning in anticipation of growing customer demands will ensure a quality user experience when the network is at its busiest.

Determining Capacity Requirements
Arriving at an accurate estimate of capacity requirements for new broadband services is not a simple exercise. One must anticipate how users will make use of the new services being offered and how often users will be actively engaged with the network. Data density, expressed as Mbps per km^2, is a convenient metric for describing capacity requirements. Determining the required data density for a specific demographic region is a multi-step process.The expected market penetration, or take-up rate, at maturity is dependent on a number of factors including the competitive situation and the services offered that distinguish one service provider from another. The service provider’s penetration may also vary within the metropolitan area since urban and dense urban residents will often have other broadband access alternatives from which to choose as compared to residents in suburban and rural areas.

Base Station Deployment Alternatives
Mobile WiMAX base station equipment will be available from many different vendors and, although all will be WiMAX compliant and meet performance and interoperability requirements, a great many different configurations will be available from which service providers can choose. The availability and timing of optional features also adds to the equipment variability. Additionally, there are different frequency bands that can be considered and varied amounts of spectrum availability within these bands. The spectrum choices will, in many cases, affect the frequency reuse factor and the channel bandwidths that can be employed in the access network.WiMAX solutions with beamforming will generally be architected quite differently from
SIMO and MIMO solutions. A typical SIMO or MIMO configuration will have power amplifiers mounted at the base of the tower to facilitate cooling and maintenance. The amplifiers in this case would have to be sized to compensate for cable losses, which can range from 2 to 4 dB depending on tower height and frequency. Beamforming solutions require good phase and amplitude control between transmitting elements and will often be architected with their power amplifiers integrated with the antenna elements in a tower-mounted array. The larger size and weight of these structures will also require more robust mounting. There is additional signal processing requirements for beamforming solutions with Adaptive Beamforming being the most computational intensive.

The selection of channel bandwidth and duplexing method can also have an economic impact on the varied WiMAX deployment alternatives. In addition the desired “worse case” UL rate will affect the UL link budget and therefore, impact the range and coverage of the base station.

Conventional cellular deployments used cell frequency reuse factors as high as seven (7) to mitigate intercellular co-channel interference (CCI). These deployments assured a minimal spatial separation of 5:1 between the interfering signal and the desired signal but required seven times as much spectrum. With technologies such as CDMA, introduced with 3G, and OFDMA, introduced with WiMAX, more aggressive reuse schemes can be employed to improve overall spectrum efficiency.

Number of Base Stations
The key metric for a quantified comparison will be the number of WiMAX base stations required to meet both capacity and coverage requirements in the varied demographic regions. The WiMAX base station is a key network element in connecting the core network to the enduser in that it determines the coverage of the network and defines the end-user experience. If too few base stations are deployed the coverage will not be ubiquitous and the end-user may experience drop outs or periods of poor performance due to weak signal levels as he moves throughout the coverage area. And since the base station investment will tend to be a dominant contributor to the total end-to-end network costs, deploying too many base stations can result in unnecessary start-up costs for the operator leading to a weaker business case.

Summing up
In the long term, the higher performance base stations with wideband channels provide a potentially more cost-effective deployment solution as measured by the number of required base stations. One might conclude that it would be worth waiting for antenna technologies such as beamforming and beamforming + MIMO and possibly even 20 MHz channels, before deploying a Mobile WiMAX network. This however, is not the case. In the early years , deployment can begin with range-limited base stations using (1x2) SIMO or (2x2) MIMO base station configurations to get ubiquitous coverage over the entire metropolitan area. These base stations can then be upgraded in the following years with beamforming and beamforming + MIMO as necessary to meet the capacity requirements in anticipation of a growing customer base. In most metropolitan area deployments this will only be necessary in the dense urban and urban areas.