Is Wireless Broadband in your Future?

A key electronics industry group has approved a significant standard for wireless broadband specifications known as "WiMax," giving a boost to a technology proclaimed as a breakthrough for cheap high-speed Internet access.

WiMax is essentially radio technology that promises to deliver two-way Internet access at speeds of up to 75 megabits per second at long range. Its backers claim that WiMax can transmit data up to 30 miles between broadcast towers and can blanket areas more than a mile in radius with bandwidth that exceeds current DSL and cable broadband capabilities.

As a result, some believe that it could slash the cost of bringing broadband to remote areas and potentially open the doors to new broadband competition, leading to lower prices and faster consumer adoption. (source)

I'm a wireless nut. It makes setting up a network at home a snap because you don't have to run wires all over the house to set up other computers. This is how I spend many of my evenings:

- Make a cocktail and relax (this is optional... I usually only do this if I've had a very stressful day)
- Have a nice dinner (out on the deck if the weather is nice)
- Make a nice cup of Earl Grey Tea with a bit of honey (very relaxing)
- Take my tea upstairs to my favorite recliner.
- Recline and turn on the TV... catch up on all the important stuff I've missed from my Replay TV.
- Turn on my Sony Vaio (wireless), and surf the internet.
- Try to strike a balance between trying to watch TV/Internet surfing, and paying attention to Max who seems to like sprawling out across my chest while I'm trying to type.
- End the evening by sipping on 20-year-old single malt Scotch whiskey (again, if the day has been very stressful... or just for the hell of it because it doesn't suck).

That's it. Not bad. I get two nice hours to catch up on the world happenings and relax.

Now, with the new "WiMax" that will be coming out, I will be able to get 75 megabits per second at long range. That's astonishing. I will be able to surf at my favorite picnic spot and instantly upload photos to the internet practically as I take them. Just for a reference in speed, the 75Mbps is many times faster than the typical cable or DSL connection and even faster than a super-expensive T-3 line (44.736Mbps).