IEEE Standard 802.16 for Global Broadband Wireless Access

Roger B. Marks, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

5/08/2008
(Original Publish Date: 10/14/2003)

Global standardization is a key issue for the success of broadband wireless access systems. The IEEE 802.16 Working Group on Broadband Wireless Access, with hundreds of participants worldwide, has developed IEEE Standard 802.16, with its WirelessMAN air interface standard for fixed wireless metropolitan area networks operating anywhere in the world in appropriate licensed or license-exempt spectrum between 2 and 66 GHz. The technology is designed to support multiple services simultaneously and so is capable of providing an area’s primary infrastructure for data, voice, and other services, in both residential and commercial applications. At frequencies below 11 GHz, the physical layer specification is designed for non-line-of-sight deployments. The protocol can transfer dozens of megabits per second in a single channel, with multiple channels available in many areas. While the published standard addresses only stationary terminals, the IEEE 802.16 Working Group is currently enhancing the specification to address mobile terminals as well.