The A to Z of broadband

WiMax

WiMax might sound like an extreme sport but it actually means Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access.

It is long-distance wi-fi, offering access to wireless broadband networks over much greater distances (up to 30 miles) than ordinary wi-fi. This means good news all round: users can get online without worrying about the quality of the copper phone line they have and operators don't have any of the expense of getting cable out to remote towns.

The list from A to Z

Click on the links below to find out more...

A is for ADSL
B is for BT
C is for Cable & Wireless
D is for Dial-up
E is for Education
F is for Fibre
G is for Goonhilly
H is for HSDPA
I is for In-flight
J is for Janet
K is for Kingston
L is for Landlines
M is for Murdoch
N is for Next generation
O is for Ofcom
P is for Power lines
Q is for Quad-play
R is for Remote working
S is for Satellite phones
T is for Trains
U is for Unbundling
V is for VoIP
W is for WiMax
X is for Xbox
Y is for YouTube
Z is for Zombies

There are two types of WiMax on the drawing board: broadband access, using landlines for 'last mile' connectivity, and mobile WiMax.

Intel and Sprint started working on this technology in 2005, and late last year an industry standards group approved a new specification of WiMax, which received its official certification for mobile networks.

Mobile WiMax could soon be coming to Japan with telecoms operator KDDI completing field trials earlier this year.

To view the silicon.com Cheat Sheet for WiMax click here.