A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a computer network larger than a local area network, covering an area of a few city blocks to the area of an entire city.

Introduction

WMAN (Wireless Metropolitan Area Networking) allows communication between two or more terminals (nodes).

The most well-known wireless networking technology is WiMAX (World Wide Interoperability for Microwave Access created by Esemble, Nokia, Harri and CrossSpan in 2001.

WiMAX

Input and output, Information processes

Samsung's first WiMAX device, SWD-M100 Mondi

WiMAX works with radio wave for transmission and microwaves for reception in frequencies between 2, 3 and 3,5 GHz.

This allows reaching speeds of 70 Mbps within distances up to 50 km from the access point.

Applications fields

The technology is used to provide internet to rural areas.

Installed in the cities, WiMAX will allow people to connect to the internet whenever they want without looking for ‘hotspots’.

Working principal

The first WiMAX standard IEEE 802.16, was created to administrate the interoperability of all devices working between 10 and 66 GHz.

It will allow, as WiFI does, recieve and transmit encryted information among devices that have the technology.

Within this standard, it should make some remarks to the IEEE 802.16a, IEEE 802.16e-2005 and IEEE802.16m.

It will allow to work with frequencies from 2 to 11 GHz, mobility and speed up to 1GB, respectively.