Delay Analysis of 802.16 based Last Mile Wireless Networks

Abstract — In this paper, we present a delay analysis of IEEE 802.16 based broadband wireless access networks, a promising technology capable of supporting both fixed and fully mobile operations while offering integrated voice, video and data services. Our work develops analytic models to evaluate the performance of IEEE 802.16 based networks in terms of their latencies as a function of various scheduling policies. The model also allows us to explore the impact of various system parameters like the subframe lengths on the performance and thereby aid in system design. The results of our model can also be used for providing probabilistic quality of service guarantees and determining the number of nodes that can be accommodated while satisfying a given delay constraint. The analytic models are verified using extensive simulations. I