WHITE PAPER WiMAX and WiFi Together: Deployment Models and User Scenarios Co-authored by Motorola and Intel Contents Introduction: Broader Broadband with WiMAX and WiFi ..................................................3 WiMAX/WiFi Synergies ....................................................................................................3 WiMAX/WiFi Deployment Models ...................................................................................5 Broadband on the Go ....................................................................................................5 Last-Mile Broadband .....................................................................................................6 Broadband Campus Coverage ......................................................................................6 Citywide Broadband ......................................................................................................6 Mobile Broadband Internet User Scenarios ......................................................................7 Social Networking on the Go ........................................................................................7 Mobile Business Productivity ........................................................................................7 Extended Education ......................................................................................................7 WiMAX/WiFi Interworking ...............................................................................................8 Multi-Mode Devices ......................................................................................................8 Session Continuity ........................................................................................................9 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................9 Resources .......................................................................................................................10 Acronyms .......................................................................................................................10 Introduction: Broader Broadband with WiMAX and WiFi By distributing high-speed Internet access from cable, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), and other fixed broadband connections within wireless hotspots, WiFi has dramatically increased productivity and convenience. Today, nearly pervasive WiFi delivers high-speed Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) connectivity to millions of offices, homes, and public locations, such as hotels, cafés, and airports. Worldwide, more than 223 million homes have WiFi connections, and there are over 127 million WiFi hotspots.1 The integration of WiFi into notebooks has accelerated the adoption of WiFi to the point where it is nearly a default feature in notebooks. Over 97% of laptops ship with WiFi integrated,2 and an increasing number of handhelds and Consumer Electronics (CE) devices are adding WiFi capabilities. WiMAX takes wireless Internet access to the next level, and over time, could achieve similar attach rates to devices as WiFi. WiMAX can deliver Internet access miles from the nearest WiFi hotspot and blanket large areas—Wide Area Networks (WANs), be they metropolitan, suburban, or rural—with multi-megabit per second mobile broadband Internet access.3 Although the wide area Internet connectivity offered by 2.5 and 3G cellular data services has been mobile, these services do not provide the broadband speeds to which users have become accustomed and that WiMAX can deliver. In the last few years, WiMAX has established its relevance as an alternative to wired DSL and cable, providing a competitive broadband service offering that can be rapidly and cost effectively deployed. Now, Mobile WiMAX, as defined in the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.16e-2005 standard, adds broadband connectivity on the move. Mobile WiMAX, based on scalable Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) technology,4 is capable of simultaneously supporting fixed, portable, and mobile usage models.5 With scalable OFDMA, operators no longer need to choose between fixed or mobile services. Together, WiMAX and WiFi are ideal partners for service providers to deliver convenient, affordable mobile broadband Internet services in more places. Both are open IEEE wireless standards built from the ground up for Internet Protocol (IP)-based applications and services. By combining WiMAX and WiFi access together, service providers can deliver high-speed Internet connectivity that subscribers desire in more places. And WiMAX and WiFi technology synergies enable seamless integration into laptops, CE devices, and a new category of devices called “mobile Internet devices.” This paper explores the complementary nature of WiMAX and WiFi, as well as illustrates how service providers can leverage these technologies to offer wireless broadband Internet connectivity and compelling new services at affordable prices and in more locations. It also focuses on the synergies between the IEEE 802.11a/g/n Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and IEEE 802.16e-2005 OFDMA air interfaces. Note: In this paper, WiMAX means the scalable OFDMA air interface as defined in IEEE 802.16e-2005. Commonly referred to as “Mobile WiMAX,” IEEE 802.16e-2005 is ideally suited—and is being deployed—not only for mobile, but also for fixed and portable applications. WiMAX/WiFi Synergies Although both WiMAX and WiFi provide wireless broadband connectivity, they have been optimized for different usage models: WiFi for very high-speed WLAN connectivity and WiMAX for high-speed Wireless WAN (WWAN) connectivity. By combining WiMAX and WiFi technologies, service providers can offer their subscribers a more complete suite of broadband services in more places. Table 1 illustrates how WiMAX and WiFi complement each other from an implementation and deployment perspective. The IEEE 802.11 and IEEE 802.16 standards are referred to as WiFi and WiMAX, respectively. The draft IEEE 802.11n standard is a new high-throughput enhancement designed for digital home and office applications. IEEE 802.16e-2005 is the mobile enhancement to IEEE 802.16-2004 and is designed to support wide area mobility via scalable OFDMA technology. Both of these technologies leverage OFDM and advanced antenna innovations to attain high-broadband data rates and improved signal reception. WiMAX and WiFi networks use IP-based technologies to provide connection services to the Internet. This standards- and IP-based network approach, combined with certification of equipment by the WiFi Alliance* and the WiMAX Forum,* provides compelling benefits to service providers and users: – A common user experience for wireless broadband services, which is a critical enabler in attaining rapid user adoption. – An open network philosophy where any certified WiMAX or WiFi device is able to connect to any WiMAX or WiFi network that supports the same certification profile, improving today’s business models for delivering mobile broadband services. – Vendor agreed-upon certification profiles, facilitating volume production and global economies of scale. – Wireless client and network equipment subjected to extensive interoperability and conformance testing, enabling an open and competitive multi-vendor environment. – An all-IP based network infrastructure, enabling cost-effective deployments for operators and open Internet services for users. 3 WiMAX and WiFi Together White Paper: Motorola and Intel Table 1: WiFi and WiMAX Comparison WiFi WiMAX Synergy Impact (IEEE 802.11 a/g/n) (IEEE 802.16e-2005) Market Deployed in local coverage areas, Deployed in wide coverage areas, including “Best-connected” model: users connect such as public hotspots, homes, metropolitan areas for mobile broadband wire- to WiMAX or WiFi depending on their and businesses. less as well as rural or remote areas for last- location, coverage, and Quality of Service mile connectivity and portable service. (QoS) requirements. Products certified by the WiFi Alliance. Products certified by the WiMAX Forum. Interoperable clients and access points enable global roaming and multi-vendor competition. Embedded in 97% of laptops and Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) and PC Integration into devices is expected to many handheld and CE devices. cards available today; embedded in laptops and reduce device subsidies and lower Cost handheld devices starting in 2008. Per Gross Add (CPGA). 6 Characteristics Provides fixed and portable solutions. Provides fixed and portable solutions. Full range of services in the home and office, as well as on the road. Operates in license-exempt spectrum. Operates in licensed spectrum. Current solu- Service providers can leverage both types Current solutions use the 2.4 and tions use the 2.3, 2.5, and 3.5 GHz bands. of spectrum; for example, license exempt 5 GHz bands. for best effort local area traffic and licensed for wide area and QoS sensitive traffic. Short range with up to 100 meters for Metropolitan area mobile coverage of up to Economical coverage of large areas; for ex- a single access point. several kilometers for a single base station. ample, WiFi hotspots in cafés, hotels, and Longer range (up to several miles) for fixed & airports, and WiMAX for blanket coverage lower-density deployments. outside of hotspots. OFDM air interface, as defined in IEEE Scalable OFDMA air interface, as defined in Similar technologies mean cost savings at 802.11a/g/n. IEEE