Abstract: In the next generation networks (4G) for Wireless Metropolitan area technology, the Mobile Wi-max (Wireless Interoperability Wireless Access) is one of the outstanding technologies that have promised to offer broadband wireless access (BWA) over long distance. The Mobile WiMAX was successfully adopted by ITU (International Telecommunication Union) as one of the IMT2000 (International mobile Telecommunications) technologies in November-2007. Mobile WiMAX, based on the IEEE 802.16e standard (release 1), supports a several types of handovers and allows fully mobility of users. Today the IEEE 802.16 Working Group (WG) has formed the IEEE 802.16m (release 2) and IEEE 802.16j. The IEEE 802.16j will provide relay functionality and IEEE 802.16m (Advance Air Interface) will provide high data rates and additional functionalities to meet the requirements for IMT-Advanced defined by ITU-R (ITU-Radio communication Sector) for 4G system. Another technology considered by IMT-Advanced for the 4G Radio Access Technology is LTE-Advanced. This paper provides vast overview of IEEE 802.16e and its comparison with other wireless technologies.

Keywords: Mobile WiMAX, IEEE 802.16e, PHY-layer, MAC-layer, Handover, IEEE 802.16m.