BT Launch WiMax Wireless Broadband Trial in UK

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://news.com.com/2100-1034-5162540.html?tag=cd_top' target='_blank'>http://news.com.com/2100-1034-51625...html?tag=cd_top</a><br /><br /></div>This story definitely falls under the "one to watch out for" category. 8) News.com report that: "Telecom giant BT is testing an emerging wide-area wireless broadband technology known as WiMax in four rural parts of the United Kingdom in what could be a prelude to a full-scale launch of the technology in Britain."<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wimax_logo.gif" /> <br /><br />The main purpose of this trial is to test fixed wireless broadband access for consumers with receivers attached to their houses. "However, BT is also exploring more advanced versions of WiMax to support high-speed mobile broadband, the company said."<br /><br />"The broadband fixed access uses a version of WiMax known as 802.16d, but a more advanced version is under development called 802.16e. It supports mobility and should allow laptops and PDAs (personal digital assistants) to connect to a WiMax antenna from a distance, like a mobile phone talking to the nearest base station." You can find out more about WiMax at the <a href="http://www.wimaxforum.org/home">WiMax Forum</a> and this <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/69/35151.html">Register story</a>.<br /><br />"Intel is giving plenty of support to WiMax, in the same way that it aggressively backed Wi-Fi. The chipmaker this week said that it expects to produce 802.16 chips later this year and that laptops including the technology could go on sale in 2006. "<br /><br />If laptops have the chips in 2006, then it's a good bet that Pocket PCs will as well. The trials are taking place in rural areas of the UK at the moment, but if all goes well, we could be looking forward to having high speed wireless access all over the UK (and elsewhere). :mrgreen:

[surur]

There is an inverse relationship between speed, range, frequency and power usage. I expect high data rates (what I would call broadband) would not be consistent with the battery power available in a pocketable unit, unless it is highly asymmetrical (high down, low speed up), and even then, processing high data rates takes more power. Just something to think about...

Surur

[Jonathon Watkins]

From the Register article:

At this stage, Intel will have WiMAX Centrino-style chipsets for handsets that connect directly to the antenna, but for the coming 18 months it will focus its marketing activities on infrastructure rather than client systems – though increasingly, its R&D will be working on the WiMAX portable.

I agree that the implications on battery power need to be carefully considered. However, lets see what sort of batteries and power-optimised devices we will have in two years time! WiMAX does look promising, as long as we have the power to use it. However, in terms of power drain, I don't see it being worse than current 802.11x power consumption. Thought that's nothing to shout about. :?

[surur]

From the Register article:

However, in terms of power drain, I don't see it being worse than current 802.11x power consumption. Thought that's nothing to shout about. :?

Accept for the implied range being far larger, therefore greater power consumption.

Surur