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International Journal Of Engineering And Computer Science ISSN:2319-7242
Volume 3 Issue 7 July, 2014 Page No. 7375-7379

A Comprehensive Comparison between WiMAX and

Wi-Fi
Shally Sharma1, Navdeep Singh Randhawa2

Punjab Institute of Technology, PTU Main Campus,

Electronics & Communication Engg,

Punjab, India.

[email protected]

[email protected]

Abstract: WiMAX and Wi-Fi are rapidly progressing technologies and now days, it is common to find them not just in
laptops and personal digital assistants, but in equipment as mobile phones, parking meters, security cameras and home
entertainment equipment. A combination of Wi-Fi and WiMAX deployment, will offer more cost-effective Solution than a
sole WiMAX or Wi-Fi implementation and a new technology that solves many of the difficulties in last-mile
implementations. WiMAX extends the benefits of Wi-Fi networks to deliver the next-generation mobile Internet. This
paper describes two technologies Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) & WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access)
used in wireless communication along with their comparison.

Keywords: Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity), WiMAX, IEEE 802.11/802.16 Standards.

Engineers (IEEE) and is part of a series of wireless
1. Introduction specifications together with 802.11, 802.11a, and802.11g. All
four standards use the Ethernet protocol and CSMA/CA
WiMAX or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access
(carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance) for path
is a trade name for IEEE 802.16 International standard. It is a
sharing.
developed standard for Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) in
The 802.11b (Wi-Fi) technology operates in the 2.4 GHz
fixed and mobile network. The aim of WiMAX to provide last-
range offering data speeds up to 11 megabits per second. The
miles broadband to a metropolitan access network which will
modulation used in 802.11 has historically been phase-shift
provide higher bandwidth and larger coverage than the
keying (PSK). The modulation method selected for 802.11b is
currently available wireless technology like 3G. In terms of
known as complementary code keying (CCK), which allows
coverage, WiMAX can provide services up to 20 or 30 miles
higher data speeds and is less susceptible to multipath-
away from the based station. In WiMAX, Base Station (BS)
propagation interference. This paper aimed to analyses based
has the responsibility to centrally control the subscriber Station
on fixed, portable and mobile WiMAX and Wi-Fi networks.
(SSs). It means, the SSs have to communicate with each other
through BS. As in WiMAX is not design to clash with Wi-Fi,
but it is designed to coexist with Wi-Fi. WiMAX service is 2. Overview of Wi-Fi and WiMAX
measured in square kilometers while Wi-Fi is measure in 2.1.1 IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi)
IEEE 802.11 WLAN or Wi-Fi is probably the most widely
square meters. There are two variants of the WiMAX standard,
accepted broadband wireless networking technology, providing
which are fixed and mobile WiMAX.
the highest transmission rate. Today’s Wi-Fi devices can
Wi-Fi (stands for "wireless fidelity") is the popular term for
provide transmission rates up to 54 Mbps. The transmission
a high-frequency wireless local area network (WLAN). The
range of a typical Wi-Fi device is up to 100 m, where its exact
Wi-Fi technology is rapidly gaining acceptance in many
range can vary depending on the transmission power, the
companies as an alternative to a wired LAN. It can also be
surrounding environments, and others. The 802.11 devices
installed for a home network. Wi-Fi is specified in the 802.11b
operate in unlicensed bands at 2.4 and 5 GHz, where the exact
specification from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
available bands depend on each country.

Shally Sharma1IJECS Volume 3 Issue 7 July ,2014 Page No.7375-7379 Page 7375
 Table 1: The 802.11 Wi-Fi Standards

2.1.5 Benefits of using Wi-Fi

1. Wi-Fi is a cost-effective and convenient alternative to a
wired network.
Figure 1: Wi-Fi Architecture
2. Wi-Fi provides increased mobility to their users.
2.1.2 The IEEE 802.11b
The IEEE 802.11 is the original Wi-Fi standard and it was 3. Cost associated with wiring cables and connectors is
successful due to its high data rates of 11 Mb/s .The range of eliminated.
IEEE 802.11 is 100 m to a maximum of a few hundred meters,
and operates on 2.4 GHz unlicensed band. 802.11b is the most 4. Ability to access Internet information in meeting rooms
widely deployed wireless network within the 802.11 wireless and other locations in the office gives ready information to the
families. It uses the DSSS modulation technique that is more employees and increases the productivity.
reliable than the FHSS.
5. Wi-Fi helps in increasing revenues in Businesses like
2.1.3 The IEEE 802.11g restaurants and other public places by creating hotspots to
The IEEE 802.11g wireless standard also operates on the 2.4 attract customers. This can be achieved at a low cost by a one-
GHz band and has similar range and characteristics as the time investment in the Wi-Fi infrastructure.
802.11b. It has a data rate of 54Mbps. The 802.11g has
backward compatibility with 802.11b and differs only on the 6. Wi-Fi is useful in space exploration.
modulation technique; it uses Orthogonal Frequency Division
Multiplexing (OFDM). This then makes the 802.11b devices 2.2 IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX)
not able to pick the signal from the 802.11g devices. WiMAX is the next generation evolution in wireless
technology and enables high-speed connectivity to meet the
2.1.4 The IEEE 802.11a increasing demand for broadband Internet at home, in the
It operates in the 5GHz band with a maximum data rate of office, or while on the go. The IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard for
54Mbps. The major disadvantage in deploying 802.11a with portable devices enables a new era of high throughput and high
the other 802.11 standards b and g is that, they cannot co-exist, delivered bandwidth together with exceptional spectral
as they operate on different frequency bands. 802.11b/g efficiency. WiMAX based on advanced technologies such as
operates on the 2.4 GHz spectrum. There are some wireless OFDMA and MIMO. WiMAX operates in between 10 and 66
card and access points which are compatible to all the three GHz Line of Sight (LOS) at a range up to 50 km (30 miles) and
standards thereby supporting both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz 2 to 11GHz non Line-of-Sight (NLOS) typically up to 6 - 10
frequencies band. km (4 - 6 miles) for fixed customer premises equipment (CPE).
Both the fixed and mobile standards include the licensed (2.5,
3.5, and 10.5 GHz) and unlicensed (2.4 and 5.8 GHz)
frequency spectrum. However, the frequency range for the
fixed standard covers 2 to 11 GHz while the mobile standard
covers below 6 GHz. Depending on the frequency band, it can
be Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) or Time Division
Duplex (TDD) configuration. The data rates for the fixed
standard will support up to 75 Mbps per subscriber in 20 MHz
of spectrum, but typical data rates will be 20 to 30 Mbps. The

Shally Sharma1IJECS Volume 3 Issue 7 July ,2014 Page No.7375-7379 Page 7376
mobile applications will support 30 Mbps per subscriber, in 10
MHz of spectrum, but typical data rates will be 3 - 5 Mbps.

Figure 3: Standards Associated With WiMAX

Figure 2: WiMAX Architecture 2.2.2 IEEE 802.16 Specifications

2.2.1 Standards Associated With WiMAX

IEEE 802 refers to a family of IEEE standards dealing with
local area networks and metropolitan area networks. More
specifically, the IEEE 802 standards are restricted to networks
carrying variable-size packets. (By contrast, in cell-based
networks data is transmitted in short, uniformly sized units
called cells. Isochronous networks, where data is transmitted as
a steady stream of octets, or groups of octets, at regular time
intervals, are also out of the scope of this standard.) The
number 802 was simply the next free number IEEE could
assign, though “802” is sometimes associated with the date the
first meeting was held February 1980.
The IEEE 802.16 Working Group on Broadband Wireless
Access Standards, which was established by IEEE Standards
Board in 1999 and aims to prepare formal specifications for the
global deployment of broadband Wireless Metropolitan Area
Networks. The Workgroup is a unit of the IEEE 802
LAN/MAN Standards Committee. Although the 802.16 family
of standards is officially called Wireless MAN, it has been
called “WiMAX” (from "Worldwide Interoperability for
Microwave Access") by an industry group called the WiMAX
Forum. The mission of the Forum is to promote and certify
compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless
products.
Table 2: IEEE 802.16 Specifications

2.2.3 TYPES of WiMAX

The WiMAX family of standards concentrates on two types of
usage models a fixed usage model and a mobile usage model.
The basic element that differentiates these systems is the
ground speed at which the systems are designed to manage.
Based on mobility, wireless access systems are designed to
operate on the move without any disruption of service; wireless
access can be divided into three classes; stationary, pedestrian
and vehicular.

Shally Sharma1IJECS Volume 3 Issue 7 July ,2014 Page No.7375-7379 Page 7377
(a) Fixed WiMAX 3. Difference between WiMAX and Wi-Fi

Service and consumer usage of WiMAX for fixed access is

expected to reflect that of fixed wire-line service, with many of
the standards-based requirements being confined to the air
interface. Because communications takes place via wireless
links from Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) to a remote
Non Line-of-sight (NLOS) base station, requirements for link
security are greater than those needed for a wireless service.
The security mechanisms within the IEEE 802.16 standards are
sufficient for fixed access service.

(b) Mobile WiMAX

The 802.16a extension, refined in January 2003, uses a lower

frequency of 2 to 11 GHz, enabling NLOS connections. The
latest 802.16e task group is capitalizing on the new capabilities
this provides by working on developing a specification to
enable mobile WiMAX clients. These clients will be able to
hand off between WiMAX base stations, enabling users to
roam between service areas.

2.2.4 Benefits of using WiMAX

1. WiMAX technology can be quickly deployed to remote

locations where the reach of copper networks is limited. It is
relatively cheaper also.

2. When compared to GSM and 3G, WiMAX produces DSL

like speeds and operates at greater distances at lower cost.

3. WiMAX offers uploading of large files.

Table 3: Difference b/w WiMAX and Wi-Fi
4. WiMAX enables operators to offer triple-play services such
as voice, data and video.
4. Integrated WiMAX / Wi-Fi Network
5. WiMAX provides features that businesses need. These Architecture
include –
When constructing integrated WiMAX/Wi-Fi networks,
- Quality of Service (QoS) which determines if a wireless one of the most challenging issues facing network
technology can successfully deliver high value Services such as designers is that of designing efficient links and Medium
voice and video. Access Control (MAC) layer protocols to optimize the
QoS between the WiMAX and the Wi-Fi components of
- Toll-quality which is a voice call having quality comparable the architecture.
to that of an ordinary long distance call, Originally placed over
circuit-switched public telephone network.

- Bandwidth at a low cost – WiMAX provides fixed and mobile

technology. WiMAX promises a low cost, high bandwidth 4G
technology.

6. NASA would like to utilize WiMAX relay stations, based on

the evolving WiMAX 802.16j standard, to extend coverage and
increase data throughput and to determine the feasibility of
using IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX) as the communication protocol.

Shally Sharma1IJECS Volume 3 Issue 7 July ,2014 Page No.7375-7379 Page 7378
 Broadband Wireless Networks” in Proc. of IEEE 978-1-
4244-2309-5, 2009.
[4] The WiMAX Handbook, “WiMAX: Technologies,
Performance Analysis, and QoS”. ISBN
9781420045253.
[5] www.wimaxforum.org.
[6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi.
[7] Mobile WiMAX: A Technical Overview and Performance
Evaluation, by www.wimaxforum.org.
[8] IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee,
http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/index.html.
[9] Theodore S.Reppeport, Wireless Communications
Principles and Practice, IEEE Press, Prentice Hall.
[10] A. Goch, D. Wolter, J. Andrews, R. Chen,
“Broadband Wireless Access with WiMAX/802.16:
Current Performance Benchmarks and Future
Potential”, IEEE Communications Magazine, vol. 43,
Figure 4: Integrated WiMAX / Wi-Fi Network Architecture no. 2., 2005.

Figure 4. Shows combination between Wi-Fi and WiMAX. In Author Profile

this case, communication can be done up to client level.
WiMAX coverage is overlapping with Wi-Fi coverage. It gives
better service choices, more flexible to the changes of network
and is more user friendly with connection ease compatible with
terminal that has been owned. Moreover with dual AP radio
implementation (Wi-Fi and WiMAX), integration will be easier
and network development also can be faster.

5. Conclusion and Future Scope

WiMAX and Wi-Fi integration promises convenient and
affordable broadband connectivity that brings new deployment
Shally Sharma currently pursuing
models for service providers, as well as new usage models for M.Tech in Electronics & Communication Engg (Wireless
subscribers. This study explored the performance details of Communication) from PIT, PTU Main Campus, Kapurthala.
WiMAX and Wi-Fi access technology. It aims was also to Her Area of research is Wireless Communication. She had
study whether WiMAX applications could provide better done her B.Tech in Electronics & Communication Engg from
network performance compare to Wi-Fi. At the same time to RBIETW, Mohali, and Punjab in 2012.She is also the member
explore the performance and QoS of both WiMAX and Wi-Fi of Punjab Science Congress.
wireless access. The ability to be connected to the Internet and
to have access to real-time information in more places is of
high value to both business professionals and consumers
services.

This paper provides a comparison and technical analysis of

alternatives for implementing last-mile wireless broadband
services. It provides detailed technical differences between
802.11 (Wi-Fi) wireless networks with 802.16 (WiMAX), a
new technology that solves many of the difficulties in last-mile
implementations.
Navdeep Singh Randhawa currently
pursuing M.Tech in Electronics & Communication Engg
References
(Wireless Communication) from PIT, PTU Main Campus, and
[1] V.Abel, “Survey of Current and Future Trends in Security Kapurthala.His Area of research is Wireless Communication.
in Wireless Networks”, International Journal of He had done his B.Tech in Electronics & Communication Engg
Scientific & Engineering. from SVIET, Banur, Punjab in 2012.He is also the member of
[2] Vikash Solomon Abel and Rodney Rambally, “WiMAX Punjab Science Congress.
and WiFi in Current World,” International Journal of
Scientific & Engineering.
[3] Hui-Tang Lin, Ying-You Lin et al, “An Integrated
WiMAX/WiFi Architecture with QoS Consistency over

Shally Sharma1IJECS Volume 3 Issue 7 July ,2014 Page No.7375-7379 Page 7379