ABSTRACT
CONTENTS 10.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 197 10.2 Network Aspects .................................................................................... 198 10.3 WiMAX Security ..................................................................................... 199 10.4 Conclusions ............................................................................................. 203 References ........................................................................................................... 204
The IEEE 802.16 protocol is also called WiMAX, which stands for worldwide interoperability of microwave access. It addresses high-bandwidth wide-area access between a service provider base station (BS) and multiple subscriber stations (SSs), often referred to as the “last mile’’ in reference to neighborhood connections between subscribers’ homes and a phone or cable company office. In fact, important parts of the protocol are based on the DOCSIS BPI + (data over cable service interface specifications: baseline privacy plus interface specification) [3] protocol used in cable modems. The original 802.16 standard covers line-of-sight connections in the 10-66 GHz range, supporting speeds up to 280 Mbps over distances up to 50 km (30 mi.). 802.16a covers nonline-of-sight connections in the 2-11 GHz range, supporting speeds up to 75 Mbps over distances of 5-8 km (3-5 mi.). 802.16a also adds features for mesh networks, while the 802.16e standard adds support for mobility (i.e., station handoff) [4].
