Migration to 4 G: Mobile IP based Solutions

Fourth Generation (4G) is the next generation of wireless networks that will replace third Generation (3G) networks sometimes in future. 4G is intended to provide high speed, high capacity, low cost per bit, IP based services for video, data and Voice (VoIP).4G is all about an integrated, global network that’s based on an open system approach. At the moment we have several technologies each capable of performing some of the functions like broadband data access in mobile or nomadic environments, supporting voice traffic using voice over IP (VoIP) etc. But what we really need is a deployment of new technologies that allow merging, bridging and integrating all these separate systems into an information delivery system of the twenty first century. The emerging IEEE 802.16 BWA technology WiMAX (World wide interoperability for Microwave Access) allows interoperability and combines the benefits that other wireless networking technologies offer individually and leads a path towards 4G and become the 4G wireless technology in the future. The 4G/WiMAX spectrum will be used for voice, video and data -- all considered broadband wireless access (BWA) applications. This paper will evaluate the potential of WiMAX as 4G technology, provide a very strong comparison between WiMAX and Wi-Fi IP based technologies, deployment of various architectures like (i) Wi-Fi / WiMAX (Wi-Fi with WiMAX can be called as migration path to 4G when both are viewed as complementary to one another [5]), (ii) Mobile WiMAX that can provide users with connectivity wherever they are and deliver the promise of 4G.

1. Introduction

Wireless broadband technologies promise to make all kinds of information available anywhere, anytime, at a low cost to a large portion of the population. More user devices than ever are going wireless for mobility and flexibility. WiMAX is a 4G technology that's fairly well accepted and will offer broadband data, voice & video services. WiMAX (IEEE 802.16) with Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) will allow operators to deliver high quality voice, video &data services on a metropolitan scale. While Wi-Fi is able to provide high speed, localized, wireless Internet access, the emerging WiMAX standard is a wide area technology, supplying wireless coverage over an area of several kilometers.