Wireless mobile broadband changes the way we access Internet
Sanath SIRIWARDENA
Remember how we welcomed wireless remote controls in to our domestic
environment? In the early 80s we were fond of having remotely controlled
TV sets at home. Later, inspired minds asked for wireless mouse devices
for the computers. The wireless mobile telephone has changed the way we
used telephones in the 90s. The Mobility feature of mobile phones have
added more meaning to the ordinary voice telephone by simply unlocking
the features of fixed wired telephone. The word wireless itself gives
some new meaning to our mind. The reason is, naturally we love to be
wireless.
The Wireless nature of anything simply means that it’s new. Superior,
latest, advanced innovations are always associated with the wireless
technology. And the convenience with the wireless environment is
unmatched.
Wireless mobile broadband has cut the wire of wired broadband
internet in the world |
We use a number of different technologies to get connected to the
Internet. The most common medium is the wire line technology that
connects us through the copper telephone wire. Many Internet
technologies in the past were based on this copper wire system while
providing Internet to its users.
Satellite Internet were also available but certain issues that
associates with the satellite technology has prevented this from
becoming popular among users in the world. However, whether its
satellite, copper wire or cable, it’s regarded as a fixed Internet
service that cannot be moved from the location where the service is
being provided to. Satellite Internet is somewhat moveable but in the
real world no ordinary user would ever consider moving his or her
satellite dish as they move from place to place.
Wireless broadband Internet technology is distinguished from all
other types by its physical characteristics. Mainly two variants of
wireless Internet technologies are available and they are categorised as
fixed wireless broadband and mobile wireless broadband. Since we are in
the era of high speed broadband (HSBB) Internet, the discussion would be
more meaningful if we stick to the word broadband with the conjunction
of Internet.
Until recently, Sri Lankan broadband market consisted of only a
single broadband player and it too on wired technology called ADSL. ADSL
broadband service started in 2003 by using existing copper telephone
wires in the country. In 2007 another operator has also entered in to
the broadband market with the latest wireless technology called WiMAX
(Worldwide Interpretability for Microwave Access) followed two more
operators in 2008. There is only one broadband Internet service provider
in the country, which provides both fixed and mobile wireless Internet
using state of the art wireless technologies. Mobile wireless broadband
is based on HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) technology and currently two
operators are providing high speed mobile broadband in a very
competitive market.
The ADSL provider still dominates the wired broadband Internet in the
country and no other operator could access their wire plant to provide
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) broadband. The reason is the ownership of
the copper wire network that still remains the property of the incumbent
operator. After identifying the importance of Internet to the society,
to increase the Internet penetration, many governments have adopted
unique strategies to overcome these monopoly rights of the incumbent
operators by taking certain measures.
One such method is opening up the access of copper wire to other
operators by allowing them to provide DSL broadband Internet using the
same copper wire of the incumbent. This process is known as “local Loop
Unbundling” (LLU) and currently employed by the regulatory bodies in
other countries. The sole idea of the process is to invite other
broadband Internet providers to enter the market to provide high speed
broadband Internet using the copper wire of the incumbent.
Unfortunately, there is no such process in Sri Lanka as yet because the
government has not taken policy level decisions to implement LLU in the
country.
This condition has adversely affected the growth of Internet and the
Internet penetration rate remained at a very low level until the
country’s telecom regulator, decided to open up the wireless spectrum to
other operators last year. Actually the wireless operators’ timing of
entering the market couldn’t be better, when it’s needed the most.
Broadband users in the country started to feel the breeze of high speed
broadband (HSBB) Internet because of these new market entrants.
The superiority of wireless technology is many times greater to wired
based ADSL service. Many limitations are found in ADLS service such as
bandwidth limitation issues rising as the distance increases, and could
be successfully overcome by these wireless technologies. In fact, ADSL
users who live beyond 3.5Km from the telephone exchange would now have
the opportunity to obtain broadband services above 4Mbps in wireless
broadband.
Since this technology is purely based on being ‘wireless’, a person
who wishes to get broadband service does not require having a wire line
telephone service at his or her location to get broadband Internet in
the future. And no additional hardware is needed if he or she plans to
get a fixed broadband Internet service using WiMAX technology for a
standalone computer.
Electromagnetic interference and signal degradation in ADSL
technology, considerably limits the advantages of wired based broadband
service. Naturally, wireless technology is also having its unique
problems like signal interference. But, many problems associated with
wireless broadband, could easily be overcome with new technology
inventions available today.
While serving Internet connectivity to remote villages where wired
telephone services are not available to provide ADSL Internet, wireless
broadband Internet would become a smarter choice in all aspects.
Moreover, CAPAX (capital expenditure) and OPEX (operational expenditure)
are fairly low in wireless network environment when comparing to copper
wire networks.
Wireless infrastructure implication is time saving and convenient
than laying underground cables. Therefore, the wireless broadband
Internet would be a profitable business module for service providers.
The next biggest advantage of the wireless broadband Internet is the
convenience that it offers to users. If the user intends to get fixed
wireless broadband service to his premises, upon his request, service
providing company will fix a wireless antenna (WiMAX) on the top of a
galvanised pole usually pointing it towards the closest WiMAX cell tower
of the service provider. Unlike in other wireless services which
operates on microwave signal which requires strict LOS (line of sight)
alignment condition between user’s antenna and the transmission tower,
WiMAX works perfectly in NLOS (none line of sight) conditions. Actually,
WiMAX has been optimised to work in NLOS conditions by improving its
technology. This would be very favourable when providing wireless
broadband Internet in high terrain areas and especially in the towns
with high rising buildings.
The fixed wireless broadband is actually affixed to one designated
place and cannot be moved with user’s desire. But the mobile wireless
broadband is a technology that packed with mobility feature of Internet
which allows the user to take their broadband Internet connection where
ever they go. Precisely this would be the new generation of broadband
access in tomorrow’s world. Adding more values to its mobility features,
using HSPA (high speed packet access) technology mobile broadband
transfers data up to 14.4Mbps.
The new generation of HSPA technology, HSPA+ could provide even
faster speeds up to 42Mbps in downlink by exhibiting its seamless
capabilities.
The benefits that mobile broadband Internet could offer to its users
are remarkable. Actually, mobile broadband Internet changes the way we
use Internet in our daily life. Some of the HSPA modems that are
available in the market are so tiny in size and weighing less than 40
grams and thus can be easily carried in a shirt pocket. The weight and
the size of the mobile broadband modem is very important since, it’s
intended to be carried by users usually with their lap tops. Therefore,
the wireless hardware has to be considerably small in size and less in
weight.
The lawyers, doctors, executives, students, researchers and even
ordinary Internet users are having the opportunity to get the benefits
of mobile broadband Internet. This portable modem is capable of turning
any computer to a high speed Internet service upon plugging.
If your office’s computer has no connection to the Internet or your
friend’s place you visit has no Internet service, you could still access
the Internet with no time by plugging HSPA wireless broadband modem to
the computer. This continues connectivity feature that this technology
provides is unmatched.
Wireless mobile broadband has opened a new chapter in broadband
Internet. Broadband Internet has become mobilised and actually is
travels with us. Today we carry a high speed broadband connection in our
pocket. Therefore, wireless broadband would be the future method of
accessing the Internet. |