Comparison between wireless WiMAX and 3G wireless technology

Each wireless technology has its own advantages and disadvantages. Various kinds of publicity are also emerging. Therefore, this article only compares the wireless WINMAX technology with other wireless technologies, so this article mainly compares with the 3G wireless technology.

WiMAX to 3G

3G is an ITU specification that supports high-speed wireless communication. This global wireless connection is compatible with GSM, TDMA, and CDMA. The next generation 3G cellular service can provide a remote wireless access range for voice and data. Operators around the world are currently deploying 3G network infrastructure for rural areas with large traffic in towns, suburbs, and cities. The next generation 3G cellular service can create a wide range of data access across multiple regions, providing the most ideal mobile computing capabilities for voice communication and Internet connections.

IEEE 802.16e has been attracting more attention since it was proposed. In particular, it has been promoted by industry giants such as Intel and wireless WiMAX Technology Organizations. The industry has held a heated discussion on 802.16e, in particular, the relationship between 802.16e and 3G has many different ideas: some think that 802.16e will replace 3G, while others think that 802.16e cannot replace 3G, but it is only a complementary technology of 3G. To analyze the relationship between 802.16e and 3G, the two technologies are comprehensively compared.

For 802.16e and 3G technologies, there is a big difference between them due to their different positioning.

In terms of standardization, 802.16e only defines the physical layer and MAC layer of the air interface. The protocols used on the MAC layer and the core network are not included in the 802.16e. 802.16e air interface standardization is expected to be completed in the near future. 3G technology, as a complete network, has completed standardization of air interface specifications, core network specifications, and business specifications, it involves wireless transmission, mobility management, business applications, and user number management.

In terms of service capabilities, 802.16e mainly provides broadband data services with certain mobile features. Users are primarily laptop terminals and 802.16e terminal holders. 802.16e can access the IP core network and provide VoIP services. 3G was initially designed for both voice and data services. For voice services, core networks still adopt circuit switching to ensure high QoS. 802.16e sacrifices mobility in exchange for improved data transmission capabilities. Its data bandwidth is superior to that of 3G systems. However, the 3G data capability is constantly improving. The 3G enhanced type, such as HSDPA, can achieve 10 Mbit/s access rate. According to the ITU definition, the final goal of the 3G enhancement model can reach 30 Mbit/s.

Although the transmission rate of wireless WiMAX technology can reach 10 times or higher than 3g, its coverage can be comparable to or even farther than 3G when low-level modulation is used, however, this is not the basic market positioning of 3G wireless wan wwan, public voice and multimedia data as the content, and personal mobile terminals roaming around the world, in essence, the wireless WiMAX technology is an important means to support the interconnection of wireless MAN and Multi-Point Base Stations in 3G and 3G Evolution. The potential market sizes of the two are also very different, so far, wireless WiMAX technology will become the terminator of 3G.

In terms of coverage, 802.16e must sacrifice coverage and mobility to obtain high data access bandwidth (30 Mbit/s, therefore, 802.16e will focus on Hotspot coverage for a long period of time. The network can provide partial mobility, and the main applications will focus on data access in the nomadic or low-speed mobile status. 3G is a ubiquitous network with continuous coverage. Users can achieve uninterrupted communication.

From the perspective of wireless spectrum resources, 3G has globally unified spectrum resources, while 802.16e is trying to find 2 ~ Frequency resources between 6 GHz are currently available in different countries. Therefore, it is difficult for 802.16e to obtain sufficient universal frequencies.

From the above analysis, we can see that although 802.16e is superior to 3 GB in terms of data capabilities, it is considered from the aspects of standardization, global unified spectrum, and technical features, there is still a long way to go before 802.16e can be used for commercial use. Moreover, it mainly solves hot coverage for a long period of time and solves part of the mobility. Its application will be 3G later. The emergence of 802.16e will not affect China's 3G industrial development.