WiMAX Mesh

I saw this post just now. 802.16e, known as Mobile WiMAX has been ratified by the IEEE.

Some interesting features:

• A MAC layer that supports multiple physical layer specificiations - I guess this is learning from the 802.11b experience where the MAC is fixed to a CSMA/CA access protocol. This led to the Hidden Node problem. It will be interesting to see if any Open Source MAC layer code emerges for WiMAX - being able alter and tweak MAC protocols to fix Hidden Node problems could be quite a good thing.
• It has an ad-hoc mode - a Mobile WiMAX node will be able to simultaneously act as a "subscriber unit" and "base station". Mobile WiMAX could be used to create a high-bandwidth mesh backbone, sitting on top of a WiFi mesh network. I wonder what sort of MAC protocol will be released for the ad-hoc mode?
• The Mobile WiMAX spec supports operation in the 2GHz - 11GHz part of the spectrum - meaning it could be used in the "class licence" or unlicenced spectrum.
• Mobile WiMAX supports MIMO technology - it is able to make use of scattered, multipath radio signals that normally cause interference in non-MIMO radio systems.

Basically, if the above is true, Mobile WiMAX is the best thing for community wireless since WiFi was invented. The main factor now is cost. Will a Mobile WiMAX implementation be released that is suitable for use in community wireless networks? What will the pricing be like? Will Mobile WiMAX use be subject to government regulation in Australia?

Even if Mobile WiMAX is a lot more expensive that WiFi, which it most certainly will be, it will be accessable by community network organisations capable of pooling user's financial resources. A high-bandwidth, outdoor-MAC, licence-free mesh technology would be an excellent backbone for a WiFi mesh network. As WiMAX comes down in cost it could progressively replace the WiFi mesh. But the WiMAX subscriber radio needs to come down in price to directly compete with a WiFi radio before it totally replaces WiFi. We may have WiFi as the last mile for some time to come.