Overview

If you are interested in deploying a WiMAX network then you are trying to figure out how much equipment you might need. You are asking yourself questions such as “How much it might cost?”, “What impact does changing the coverage area have on the bottom line?”, “What impact does changing the data rate or throughput have?”, and more. The answers to these questions depend upon the types of services you are planning to provide as well as the demographics of your intended coverage area. This publication provides a framework for answering these questions.

Introduction.

Key Elements of a WiMAX Network.

WiMAX propagation..

Urban Area Planning.

Suburban Area Planning.

Rural Area Planning.

Capacity vs. Coverage.

Customer Location Issues.

Oversubscription as a Factor in Planning.

Coverage Comparisons: Urban vs. Rural

Estimating Base Stations for Capacity.

Urban Analysis.

Rural Analysis.

WiMAX Coverage.

Capital Expense Evaluation..

Subscribers and Revenue.

Capital Expense for BTS Deployment

Analysis Summary.

Table of Figures

Figure 1: Key elements of a WiMAX network

Figure 2: RF Signal propagation

Figure 3: Dense Urban Area

Figure 4: Urban Area

Figure 5: Suburban Area

Figure 6: Rural Area

Figure 7: Tradeoff between Coverage and Capacity

Figure 8: Where are the Customers Located?

Figure 9: Oversubscription

Figure 10: Coverage Example

Figure 11: Capacity Example

Figure 12: Equipment Pricing

Figure 13: Subscribers and Revenue

Figure 14: BTS count and Capex

Figure 15: Revenue vs. Capital Expense