WiMAX

WiMAX stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. It is a family of wireless broadband standards based on the IEEE 802.16 family, designed to provide metropolitan-area network connectivity and last-mile broadband access. The technology supports fixed and mobile deployments and aims to offer high data rates over reasonably long distances.

The original standard, IEEE 802.16-2004 (often called fixed WiMAX), defined point-to-multipoint wireless links in licensed spectrum for fixed access. Mobile WiMAX, defined by IEEE 802.16e-2005, added mobility features such as handover and improved spectral efficiency using OFDMA. A later refresh, often referred to as 802.16m or WiMAX 2, targeted higher peak speeds and better performance to compete with newer cellular technologies.

WiMAX networks typically operate in licensed microwave bands, with channel bandwidths that vary by region (commonly 5 to 20 MHz). The air interface for mobile versions uses OFDMA with MIMO and supports quality of service for multiple service classes. The technology is designed for point-to-multipoint access, enabling service providers to connect residential or business customers and to backhaul cell sites.

Development and promotion of interoperability were coordinated by the WiMAX Forum, alongside the IEEE standards body. Since the 2010s, LTE has become the dominant mobile broadband technology in many markets, and WiMAX use has declined, though it remains in service in some regions for fixed wireless access and backhaul.