subject: What is WiMAX Technology? and what is ADSL? [print this page] What is WiMAX Technology? What is WiMAX Technology?
WiMAX stands for "Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access". It is a telecommunications technology providing wireless data over long distances in a variety of ways, from point-to-point links to full mobile cellular type access. It is based on the Wireless MAN (IEEE 802.16) standard.
WiMAX is a highly measurable, long-range system, covering many kilometers using licensed range to deliver a point-to-point connection to the Internet from an ISP to an end user. WiMAX can be used to provide a wireless substitute to cable and DSL for broadband access, and to provide high-speed data and telecommunications services. WiMAX can also be used to connect many Wi-Fi hotspots with each other and also to other parts of the Internet.
When using WiMAX device with directional antennas, speeds of 10Mbit/s at 10 km distance is possible, while for WiMAX devices with Omni-directional antennas only 10Mbit/s over 2 km is possible. By means of WiMAX enabled handsets and laptops coming into the market, people could connect to the fast broadband internet from anywhere and at anytime, without having to depend on the slow rate mobile network data transfer. You can work on broadband, call friends and colleagues and watch real-time TV from the top of a forest hill station many kilometers away from the access point - without compromising on quality, speed or screen size.
What is ADSL?
The ADSL broadband, or Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, is the most common type of broadband as it uses a standard phone line and is complete via BT. It simply means that by converting your analogue phone line to a digital line (ADSL line) your phone line can now be used to simultaneously transmit data at high speed. As a result of switching to ADSL broadband, data can be transferred at greatly increased speeds. An analogue modem works at a maximum speed of 56Kbps, but ADSL broadband works at speeds of 512Kbps (0.5Mbps) and above.
ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscribers Line: -
Sometimes referred to as Broadband, ADSL is an Internet connection available from telecom companies using existing phone lines providing fast download & upload speeds. ADSL works by splitting your phone line signal into two separate channels, one for normal voice usage, and the other for data usage. This is achieved by placing a splitter (micro-filter) on the existing phone line to enable multi-frequency communication (voice and data). A big advantage of having an ADSL line is not missing calls while you're online, as both voice and data can be transferred at the same time.
