9. TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
WiMax does not conflict with WiFi but actually complements it.
WiMAX is a wireless metropolitan area network (MAN) technology that will connect 802.11(WiFi) hotspots to the Internet and provide a wireless extension to cable and DSL for last mile (last km) broadband access. 802.16 provides up to 50 km (31 miles) of linear service area range andallows users connectivity without a direct line of sight to a base station. The technology also provides shared data rates up to 70 Mbit/s, which, according to WiMax proponents, is enough bandwidth to simultaneously support more than 60 businesses with T1-type connectivity and hundreds of homes at DSL-type connectivity.
An important aspect of the 802.16 is that it defines a MAC layer that supports multiple physical layer (PHY) specifications. This is crucial to allow equipment makers to differentiate their offerings.
10. CONCLUSION
The WiMAX forum, backed by industry leaders, helps the widespread adoption of broadband wireless access by establishing a brand forth technology. Initially, WiMAX will bridge the digital divide, the scope of WiMAX deployment will broaden to cover markets where the low POTS penetration, high DSL unbundling costs, or poor copper quality have acted as a brake on extensive high-speed Internet and voice over broadband. WiMAX will reach its peak by making Portable Internet a reality. When WiMAX chipsets are integrated into laptops and other portable devices, it will provide high-speed data services on the move, extending today's limited coverage of public WLAN to metropolitan areas. Integrated into new generation networks with seamless roaming between various accesses, it will enable endorsers to enjoy an "Always Best Connected" experience. The combination of these capabilities makes WiMAX attractive for a wide diversity of people: fixed operators, mobile operators and wireless ISPs, but also for many vertical markets and local authorities.

11. GLOSSARY

CPE: Customer Premise Equipment
DSL: Digital Subscriber Line
FDD: Frequency Division Duplex
MAC: Media Access Control
MIMO: Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output
NLOS: Non-Line-Of-Sight
OFDMA: Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex Access
PLC: Power Line Communications
POTS: Plain Ordinary Telephone System
STC: Space Time Coding
TDD: Time Division Duplex
WLAN: Wireless Local Area Network
WLL: Wireless Local Loop









12. REFERENCES

[1].WiMAX: The Critical Wireless Standard, Blueprint WiFi Report,
October 2003
[2].WiMAX/802.16 and 802.20, ABI Research, Q4 2003
Last Mile Wireless High Speed Market, Skylight Research,
March 2004
[3].Providing Always-on Broadband Access to Underserved Areas,
Alcatel Telecommunication Review (p. 127-132), Q4 2003
[4].WiMAX forum web site: www.wimaxforum.org
[5]. IEEE SPECTRUM.