Beamforming Boosts the Range and Capacity of WiMAX Networks

Having gained tremendous momentum over a number of years, WiMAX is now widely viewed as a leading candidate for fourth-generation (4G) wireless data communication. Compared to traditional 3G cellular networks, WiMAX offers a more affordable technology for transferring large amounts of data with high throughput. A technology known as "adaptive beamforming" can magnify this WiMAX advantage considerably. At a relatively low implementation cost, beamforming improves both the range and capacity of a WiMAX network. In fact, beamforming reduces capital and operating expenses for WiMAX implementations by minimizing the number of base stations needed in a network.

Fujitsu and Cisco are strongly committed to the use of beamforming in WiMAX networks, and both companies use beamforming in their WiMAX products. This white paper outlines the operation and advantages of beamforming.