ZDNet |UK| - Comment - Story - Broadband wireless goes to the max
802.16 is to 802.11 what the M25 motorway is to the Basingstoke one way system. Designed to operate over a number of bands from 2GHz to 66GHz, 802.16 can work over 30 miles and pump data at speeds of up to 70Mbps.
Originally intended for 'last mile' fixed wireless broadband links, the standard has already grown mesh additions to let stations relay data for others, and work is underway for mobile working. This week, Intel announced it would be designing 802.16 silicon: it's not alone, and other standards espoused by the chip giant haven't always taken off, but as a statement of intent it's very significant. If 802.16 takes off, it'll change the face of broadband.
I've heard it before, but there might be something in this. Could this be a way of improving the link over the last mile without major investment of diggin up roads and replacing infrastructure? Okay there has got to be some investment, base stations for one, however it could be that this is significantly less than fixed solutions. If chipsets and the equipment get to be consumer pricing then who knows where this cold lead?
Posted by Paul Goodison at July 21, 2003 10:03 AM | TrackBack