WiMAX or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access is a wide area network technology that can provide wireless broadband access of up to 50km for fixed stations, and 5km – 15km for mobile stations. In comparison, Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 technology) can only offer access within a 30m – 100m radius.
WiMAX, also known as IEEE 802.16, therefore operates in a similar way to Wi-Fi; but at higher speeds, over greater distances and for a greater number of users.
A WiMAX system consists of two parts; a WiMAX tower and a WiMAX receiver. A single WiMAX tower – similar in concept to a cell-phone tower – can provide coverage to an area of up to 8,000km2. The WiMAX tower sends and receives signals to transceivers that are similar to DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) or cable modems that are connected to computers, Wi-Fi receivers, or anything that can receive an Ethernet connection.
In the case of Sarawak, WiMAX could potentially erase the suburban and rural “blackout areas” that currently have no broadband Internet access because phone and cable companies have yet to run the necessary wires to those remote locations.
As the State moves steadily to develop the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), WiMAX could also prove to be a vital infrastructure, especially for potential investors who, place great value on good connectivity.
With WiMAX, multi-national companies in the SCORE area would be able to hold emergency meetings at any time, through smooth streaming video-conferencing, with their other branches or headquarters overseas. Furthermore, large-sized digital documents can be transferred in a matter of seconds or minutes regardless of the location of the sender and recipient.
The availability of WiMAX in Sarawak would benefit the civil service, as well. It would help improve efficiency as the technology would enable officers serving in the rural areas to hold more regular meetings with their counterparts in the State capitol, through smoother and higher quality video-conferencing.
It is hoped that WiMAX would also be able to bridge the digital divide in Sarawak, while at the same time help to open more doors to business and job opportunities for the people.
According to one of the WiMAX companies, PacketOne, WiMAX will be available in most of Sarawak’s major cities such as Kuching, Miri and Sibu, by early 2010. Once these major areas were covered and evaluated, WiMAX will be available at secondary towns such as Bintulu and Mukah, followed by the rural areas.
