Driving Broadband Innovation: IEEE 802.16a Approval for WirelessMAN

Broadband wireless access took another step forward late last month when the IEEE approved 802.16a, an amendment that adds features to the group's 802.16 standard that defines the WirelessMAN air interface specification. 802.16 was developed by the IEEE's 802.16 Working . . . Broadband wireless access took another step forward late last month when the IEEE approved 802.16a, an amendment that adds features to the group's 802.16 standard that defines the WirelessMAN air interface specification. 802.16 was developed by the IEEE's 802.16 Working Group on BWA (Broadband Wireless Access) to address the need for broadband connection solutions that are more economical than wired alternatives. The working group completed the BWA standard in October 2001 and published it in April.

BWA can provide more capacity than its wired broadband counterparts (cable and digital subscriber line) because it allows companies access to fiber-optic telecommunications networks using wireless connections, instead of building out the network using cables.

The most appealing aspect of the BWA technology is its ability to quickly expand a broadband network to customer sites that a conventional fiber network can't reach. It works by leveraging installed high-speed optical networks, combined with radio base stations mounted on buildings or towers.

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