Performance study of mobile WiMAX network with changing scenarios under different modulation and coding

WiMAX—the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access is a promising technology for offering high‐speed data, video and multimedia services over mobile platform evolving toward all IP networks. The increasing demand of WiMAX for VoIP and high‐speed multimedia is due to the simplicity of installation and cost reduction compared with the traditional wired DSL cable. The challenges to service providers lie with the Quality of Service (QoS) under varying fading environment while at the same time maximizing for resource utilization. In this paper, a rigorous and comprehensive performance study of mobile WiMAX has been made with respect to adaptive modulation and coding techniques considering the variation in the speed of the mobile, path‐loss, scheduling services and application type for comparing with the fixed type of modulations. The OPNET 14.5.A modeler for WiMAX platform has been used as simulator for adaptation at the physical layer of the transmission in WiMAX OFDMA structure. Observation reveals that dynamic adaptation of modulation and coding schemes based on channel condition enables better QoS while consuming low overall bandwidth of the system. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.