ABSTRACT
CONTENTS 8.1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 159
8.1.1 Wireless Broadband Revolution ................................................. 159 8.1.1.1 Wi-Fi or Wireless Fidelity ............................................. 160 8.1.1.2 WiMAX ........................................................................... 162
8.2 Broadband Infrastructure for Emerging Countries: The Case of India ...................................................................................... 163
8.3 Wireless Infrastructures for Urban and Suburban Areas ................... 164 8.3.1 Ubiquitous Wireless Infrastructure for Urban Areas .............. 165 8.3.2 Affordable Fixed Wireless Infrastructure for
Suburban Areas (Hot Zones) ...................................................... 167 8.4 Applications of Countrywide Wi-Fi/WiMAX Deployment .............. 169 8.5 Conclusion ................................................................................................. 171 Acknowledgments ............................................................................................. 172 References ........................................................................................................... 172
8.1.1 Wireless Broadband Revolution
The period of the Industrial Revolution during the past two centuries saw the most development in the history of mankind. But that period of unparalleled growth will be overshadowed by the current technological revolution, namely, the ICT revolution. This revolution will not only benefit individuals, but also enable tremendous impact on a nation and the global economy as a whole. Because of the increased global connectivity, the amount of information that can be transmitted electronically has grown exponentially, resulting in an unprecedented level of ease in communication between all parts of the
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world. For true success of the ICT revolution, one needs broadband connectivity, as it is not only the information that is shared among people but also the voice, image, video, etc. There is no agreed definition for broadband. It is usually recognized with higher transmission speeds and “always on’’ connectivity. Broadband is at the heart of the convergence of telecommunication, information technology, and broadcasting [5]. Therefore, there is a great need for modern hi-tech communication infrastructure, since the focus of applications is on interaction rather than just information sharing.
