The next Information Research Group Meeting is in E11_A3 - Arts Lecture Theatre 3 from 1 to 2pm on Friday, 27th February 2009. The focus is on Wireless Broadband at UNE. Everyone is welcome.

This semester we are extending the trial WiFi network to 300 access points across all UNE campuses. The improvement of the local network from 10Mbit to 1Gigabit per second will support many new web based applications. But how do we connect isolated rural and regional areas? Satellite communications are expensive and ADSL is 40% more expensive here than in neighbouring countries like Korea. What new technologies are emerging to fill the gap?

WiMAX (http://ieee802.org/16/ ) is a broadband wireless protocol covering hundreds of square kilometres. The Centrino 2 chipset integrates EtherNet, WiMAX and WiFi and is now deployed in mobile computers and communications devices. There is information on deployment and case studies at http://www.wimaxforum.org/ . A good summary of WiMAX capabilities can be found at http://www.wimaxforum.org/resources/frequently-asked-questions .

Advantages of WiMax include:

• International 4G Standard established in most countries
• Perfectly suited for regional and rural areas
• Purchase and installation WiMAX technology is faster, simpler and cheaper than other solutions
• Non-line-of-sight (NLoS) capability provides coverage despite the challenges of geography and the limited footprint of wireline.
• Australia’s late adoption provides UNE with an opportunity to show leadership in the bush by piggybacking on overseas development
• Intel Centrino 2 chip set is now available
• Provides cost effective “last mile” connectivity to fibre node backbone
• Unlicenced spectrum is owned by local council avoiding Telstra/Optus carrier costs
• In Africa, WiMAX provides Internet and VOIP services faster and more affordably than wireline
• Wide coverage - 50Km
• Range can be enhanced in a rural setting by increasing EIRP (effective isotropic radiated power) to 25W
• Ideal for remote isolated regions with no existing coverage
• WiMAX suppies data bandwidth only, increasing the bandwidth without compromising voice service quality 

 Regards, Charles

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