WIFI? 3G? or WIMAX? part 2
By ShockExcite Media Sdn Bhd
From part 1, we discussed about HSDPA coverage is currently quite limited but will ultimately assume the same footprint as 3G which in itself will continue to grow.
In the meantime, cellular connectivity will follow a step down model, with the user moving from HSDPA, through 3G, to GPRS as they roam further away from urban centres. On some networks, there will be a fourth level of service provided by Digi's EDGE, which sits between 3G and GPRS in terms of performance. Network-aware connection utilities sitting on the notebook itself will generally manage the step up and step down process, maintaining the high cellular convenience factor.
With the current state of play, WiFi is still the preferred option from both a cost and performance perspective for power users who frequently consume a significant amount of bandwidth in predefined public locations, provided access is mostly preferred FREE. For general purpose access, however, 3G/HSDPA provides better coverage, a higher level of convenience and could actually reduce costs significantly if users are currently buying WiFi access on an ad hoc basis.
So What about other alternatives? The other option we haven't mentioned yet is WiMax, which is currently targeted at high-speed wireless access in both mobile and fixed locations, e.g. to provide broadband services to buildings or locations that are too far away from the nearest exchange to
receive a DSL connection or none at all. WiMax is likely to emerge very soon in Malaysia, but a few problems to be overcomed before it can actually be materialised, such as licensing by MCMC, and many would expect it to be well into 2008 before equipment and services are generally available in the mainstream. Even then, although there has been reports that companies (especially the 17 companies bidding for the license) has already tested and are confident about the quality of service, there are still unanswered questions around coverage about how effective
WiMax will be for in-building use, something which is likely to vary from country to country depending on the spectrum allocated by the local regulator.
Meanwhile, WiMax is probably a distraction for those with immediate user demands who need to put a more coherent wireless remote access strategy in place. In the short to medium term at least, it is a case of understanding individual user requirements and blending WiFi and cellular options accordingly.
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