New Wireless Network on Its Way

The next big thing in wireless is here, or at least on its way. Important people in the wireless business are currently gathering in Orlando at the CTIA Wireless Trade Show to confer and show off their latest technology, WIMAX. WIMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, in case you're curious) is the fourth and most recent generation of wireless network, which promises to be both cheaper and faster than its predecessor. As it is implemented over the next few years, it will likely change our concept of internet access, in addition to improving our cell phones.

Working with a packet-based transmission technology, similar to the WIFI that allows us to connect our computers wirelessly to the internet, WIMAX allows the transmission of data at speeds up to 20 megabits per second, several times faster than current wireless protocols. Being able to handle more data than the current network means that calls will be clearer, but also means that new possibilities will open up. Wireless broadband, something now prohibitively expensive and unreliable, will be vastly improved, becoming cheaper and faster. In fact, according to an article on ZDnet, WIMAX is likely to replace traditional DSL and cable service. Needless to say, this is great news for anyone who travels with anything electronic.

WIMAX will not only enable computers to wirelessly connect to the internet from anywhere, though. Plans are being made to put WIMAX chips in printers, cameras, game systems, and mp3 players, as well as computers and telephones. In addition to use for internet connectivity purposes, WIMAX will enable small scale home networking, eliminating the need for cables around the house. In a few years, rather than plugging your camera and mp3 player into the computer to transfer data, you may be able to do it wirelessly. Obviously, this radically changes the nature of the business plans that will be needed surrounding the new network. Traditional cell phone subscriptions may have to give way to some sort of consolidated data service.

Although the new technology is already catching on in Asia, Sprint is one of only two companies to begin investing in this new technology. Sprint plans to spend about $3 billion over the next few years to replace its current network with a WIMAX network, starting in major cities, but eventually covering the entire country. We should expect to see the beginnings of WIMAX service within the next two years.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wimax

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-6170174-2.html?tag=st.next