10 March 2018

Advantages and disadvantages of WiMAX

WiMAX stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Acess services brings long time term evolution in the wireless sector. It is similar to the Wi-Fi both create hot-spots. Wi-Fi technology can cover several 100 meters while covering a range of 40-50 km. It can also provide a wireless alternative to cable, DSL, and broadband access. The main advantages of WiMAX are that it allows high-speed wireless internet connection over the broad coverage area, while main disadvantages of WiMAX is still much bigger installation coast and also operational cost. Now let us check it out the information about the advantages and disadvantages of WiMAX to know more details about it.

Advantages of WiMAX :
  • A single location can serve hundreds of users
  • Single WiMax BS serves hundreds of users
  • Much faster deployment of the new user as compared to wired networks
  • It creates a volume opportunity for silicon suppliers
  • The speed of 10 Mbps at 10 kilometers with a line of sight
  • It is considered to be a cheaper alternative to broadband wired technologies viz. ADSL, cable modem etc
  • It is standardized, and also have same frequency equipment should work together
  • There exists a standard based, the stable platform upon which to rapidly add new capabilities so it is innovating more rapidly
  • Higher bandwidth
  • High coverage range
  • High speed can be achieve
  • Lower cost
  • Communication range up to 100 miles 
  • Does not require telephone lines
  • Provide mobility to a user with access to the internet
  • Design with better quality services
  • No SIM card requires
  • Non-line of sight connection
  • It works on an unlicensed frequency spectrum
  • Cellular like performance is achieved with mobile WiMAX
Disadvantages of WiMAX :
  • Big installation and operational cost
  • Multiple frequencies are used
  • A line of sight needed
  • Poor bandwidth when serving lots of clients
  • Higher latency
  • Unreliable service
  • Spectral limitation
  • Big delay
  • Big power consumption
  • Interference with other wireless signals
  • Hand over and roaming hard to achieve
  • Very power intensive technology  and  also have to require strong electrical support
  • Weather conditions like rain could cause interference
  • WiMAX is very power consuming
  • Multiple frequencies are used for WiMax deployment
  • WiMAX can offer up to 70 Mbps in the range of 70 miles with the moving station. So in practice, the situation is very different. So it is true that only in ideal circumstances with only one recipient
  • If there are many users in one sector, then they will have lower speed