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802.16 WiMax is designed for data rates up to 268 mbps each way with provisions for delivering ATM [Asynchronous Transfer Mode] compatible QoS [Quality of Service] Ethernet and other services such as MPLS [Multi-Protocol Label Switching]. The 802.16 MAC uses a variable length designed to increase the efficiency of the standard. Multiple MAC PDUs [Packet Data Units] may be concatenated (combined) into a single burst to save PHY [PHYsical overhead]. Additionally, multiple SDU [Service Data Units] for the same service may be concatenated into a single MAC PDU, saving on MAC header overhead. Fragmentation allows very large SDUs to be sent as needed to guarantee the QoS [Quality of Service]. Payload header suppression can be used to reduce the overhead caused by the redundant portions of SDU headers.

802.16 can use TDMA [Time Division Multiple Access] (shown in the tutorial) where each data packet is assigned a unique time slot, FDMA [Frequency Division Multiple Access] for both full duplex (simultaneous two-way) and half-duplex (one direction at a time) or other transmission systems. The IEEE 802.16 Air Interface Standard is designed for fixed broadband wireless access systems employing a PMP [Point-to-MultiPoint] architecture for BWA [Broadband Wireless Access] systems operating between FCC licensed frequencies 10 and 66 GHz [GigaHertz] and unlicensed bands in the 2-11 GHz range.

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