What is WiMAX?

WiMAX, also known as IEEE 802.16, is a wireless data protocol that was originally conceived to provide a completely wireless alternative to cable and DSL high-speed Internet. WiMAX can operate at up to 10 Mb per second, and was seen as a forward-looking alternative for the costly construction and deployment of fiber optic cables, and other data transmission lines to connect the customer's household after the Internet, particularly in sparsely populated areas. More recently, however, there's been interest in using the protocol for wireless connectivity for connected devices such as net books, cell phones, etc.