What is the Difference Between WiMAX and WiMAX2 Network Technology?

WiMAX and WiMAX2 are both wireless broadband technologies that belong to the IEEE 802.16 family, designed to deliver high data rates and low latency. However, there are some key differences between the two:

• Speed: WiMAX has maximum speeds of around 70 Mbps downlink, while WiMAX2 can reach speeds of up to 300 Mbps.
• Bandwidth: The bandwidth of WiMAX ranges between 1.25 MHz to 20 MHz, while that of WiMAX2 ranges from 5 MHz to higher.
• Latency: WiMAX2 is expected to have lower latency than WiMAX, as it is built with more VoIP capabilities.
• Backward Compatibility: WiMAX2 is built upon the 802.16m standard and is backward compatible with WiMAX.
• Implementation: WiMAX is already implemented and widely used, while WiMAX2 is still in the development phase.

WiMAX2 is considered a successor to WiMAX and is expected to offer better signal link and more capabilities. It is anticipated that the adoption of WiMAX2 will increase as it provides improvements over WiMAX in terms of speed, bandwidth, and latency.

Comparative Table: WiMAX vs WiMAX2 Network Technology

WiMAX and WiMAX2 are both wireless broadband communication standards based on the IEEE 802.16 set of standards. However, there are some differences between the two technologies:

Both WiMAX and WiMAX2 are used for long-range communication, with WiMAX having a range of up to 50 km. They are designed to provide broadband access and support various applications, such as Voice over IP, multimedia streaming, and interactive gaming. While WiMAX is currently deployed in many countries, WiMAX2 is expected to provide even faster data rates and improved performance.