AWERProcedia Information Technology & Computer Science

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1 AWERProcedia Information Technology & Computer Science 2 (2012) nd World Conference on Innovation and Computer Sciences An Assessment of Infrastructure Readiness for Private Telecommunication Companies in Yemen to Implement WiMax Network Ali Mohammed Al-Sharafi a *, Mohamed Othman b, Layla Ali Haj Said c a Department of Networks Technology & Computer Security, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen b Department of Communication Technology and Network, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor D.E., Malaysia c International College, University of Science and Technology, Sana'a, Yemen Abstract With progression in application of communications technology, the scope for deployment of WiMax (wireless interoperability microwave access) network is very promising, particularly in the developing countries. This paper examines infrastructure for private telecommunication companies (Sabafon, MTN, Y, and Yemen mobile) to deploy WiMax network in Yemen, from technical perspectives. This paper provides a glance on telecommunications companies and explores their readiness to deploy WiMax. Information was collected by a questionnaire to examine companies infrastructure to deploy WiMax, and to find out the overall readiness to implement it. However, their infrastructure need to develop and need equipment, also the core network needs to be improved. The findings of this paper will be useful to help companies to evaluate their infrastructure and try to introduce a new wireless networks Keywords: WiMax, Infrastructure Assessment. Selection and peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Dogan Ibrahim Academic World Education & Research Center. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Wireless networking technologies range from global voice and data networks (which allow users to establish wireless connections across long distances) to infrared light and radio frequency * ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Ali Mohammed,Al-Sharafi, Department of Networks Technology & Computer Security, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen address: ali.alsharafi@gmail.com / Tel.:

2 technologies that are optimized for short-range wireless connections. Devices frequently used for wireless networking include portable computers, desktop computers, handheld computers, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), cellular phones, pen-based computers, and pagers. Wireless technologies provide many practical purposes. For instance, mobile users can benefit from their cellular phone to access . Travelers with portable computers can reach out to the Internet over base stations installed in airports, railway stations, and other public locations. At home, users can reach out devices on their desktop to synchronize data and transfer files [1]. WiMax is implemented in many countries to provide such services. This paper introduces an exploration assessment study to measure the readiness for telecommunication companies in Yemen (one of the developing countries) to implement WiMax. The collection of information from private telecommunication companies (Sabafon, MTN, Y, and Yemen mobile) will help in determining whether these companies need to upgrade their infrastructure or not, does the cost of deploying this service worth the upgrade, and to check whether the cost of this service will be reasonable for customers. WiMax was chosen by the study to be the suitable wireless network can cover Yemen because it represents the next generation of wireless networking, filling the gap between Wireless LANs and wide area networks, WiMax-compliant systems will provide a cost effective fixed wireless alternative to conventional wire-line DSL and cable in areas where those technologies are readily available, and more importantly the WiMax technology can provide a cost-effective broadband access solution in areas beyond the reach of DSL and cable Telecommunication companies in Yemen In Yemen, there are four telecommunication companies, Sabafon which is the first GSM operator in Yemen was established in 2001, it uses 2G and 2.5G and now it covers 68% in Yemen [4]. Second company is MTN, formerly known as Yemen Spacetel. It was established at the end of 2001 [5]. Third company is Y. It was established in 2007, and its core network is 2.5 G, all the services it introduces are related to the second generation [6]. Last company is Yemen Mobile which established in 2004 [7]. First three are GSM companies and they are using 2G and 2.5G in their network, while the fourth company is CDMA company and it uses 3G infrastructure Related works Many similar researches had been conducted to study the possibility of deploying WiMax in some countries. According to [8], it appears to be the best general approach to follow the deployment of WiMax in Saudi Arabia. This came up with meeting the proposed marketing strategy and responding to the deployment issues in Saudi Arabia. Service providers can choose the combination of technologies, vendors and partners in order to meet the market requirements. This approach has a greater flexibility by way of variety of revenue generating services. The study provides useful approach into how WiMax could be marketed in Saudi Arabia. Authors in [9] looked for providing a comprehensive picture of WiMax development in India, focusing on the three aspects of policy, industry, and market. The researchers use survey to collect information on India's infrastructure and develop it to deploy WiMax network and they were used secondary resource for data, their article content comprehensive overview on WiMax and its standards, for future work. WiMax was successfully deployed in the United States [10]. The study was about deploying WiMax in the United State in LasVegas, Atlanta, and Grand Rapids, and how it faces the threat that can attack this network with some procedures to protect it. It covered how WiMax would allow customers a completely wire free network connection in their homes or businesses. WiMax would also provide better services for mobile devices. There are also some speculations for WiMax to be used in gaming consoles; nevertheless, Clear wire has successfully deployed WiMax to several cities in the US and has been the main WiMax service provider for the last few years. 420

3 2. Assessment Process The research followed survey study for the reason that nature of survey research can be best understood by comparing it to two other dominant methods in telecommunication: case studies and laboratory experiments. The quantitative approach was applied in this research, it was used to answer questions on relationships within measurable variables (telecommunication companies' infrastructure and possibility to implement WiMax network) with an intention to predict the phenomena if there is readiness in companies infrastructure to implement WiMax network in Yemen. Quantitative method typically begins with data collection based on variables that determined and questionnaire design to serve this study, and it was followed with application of explorative statistics. Independent variables (implement WiMax in telecommunication companies) and the dependent variables (standard WiMax infrastructure) were chosen dependence on standard found from the IEEE e Data collection For the purposes of the study, questionnaire was developed to measure and evaluate the readiness of telecommunication companies to implement WiMax network in Yemen. The questionnaire was developed to cover the objective of the study. The type of questionnaire's questions is explorative to get information about companies' infrastructure and their suitability to implement WiMax. 50 copies of the questionnaire were distributed on each telecommunication company, with total of 200 copies and they were distributed on five job degrees in companies. The questionnaire was chosen because it is inexpensive, easy to distribute, and the respondents can complete the questionnaire at their convenience. The received copies were 146 copies, with 73% from society Selecting a sample The research objectives and scope of the study are critical in defining the target population. The target population is the complete group of objects or elements relevant to the research project. They are relevant because they possess the required information the research project was designed to collect. The target populations in this research are the employees of telecommunication companies who they work in Transmission, BSS, Core, Radio, and Engineering departments, the definition of employees was influenced by knowledge of the topic of interest, access to elements, availability of elements and time frame Sample size The questionnaire was distributed on a simple random sampling; therefore it must be representative of the community better representation, and the sample size is appropriate for the size of the community. The size of sample is determine by formula: n = p*(1-p)/((p*(1-p)/n)+(a 2 /Z 2 )) (1) Where n = sample size N = population size p = Percentage of subject obvious in society, if possible, if not identified and can be identified were assumed to be 50% of the vocabulary of community a = Significance level is either 1% or 5% or 10% 421

4 Z = degree of confidence (the number of standard errors for the degree of confidence specified for the research) 1 a = Confidence coefficient By applying formula (1): n = 0.5*(1-0.5)/((0.5*(1-0.5)/970)+(0.52/1.962)) = 275 It is almost 28% of the size of the community. Validity and reliability of the research instrument were checked to assure the results of the study will be accurate. 3. Results and Discussion After analyzing the questionnaires results it showed that the awareness of the employees about WiMax was high as shown in Fig 1. MTN has the most employers who are familiar with WiMAX, it represents 100.0%, whereas 86.8% from Sabafon, 84.2% from Y company, and 93.9% from Yemen mobile. Fig. 1. Awareness of WiMax The cost of deploying WiMax was quite suitable for all companies. On the opposite, all companies almost agreed that the cost for customers will be expensive and not suitable. Fig. 2, showed the percentage of suitability for each company. Fig. 2. (a) Cost suitability for companies; (b) cost suitability for customers The study is quantitative; therefore, the analysis result represented a percent of readiness for each company to deploy WiMax in telecommunication companies. The readiness percentage for Sabafon was 54.4%, for MTN was 42.9%, for Y company was 36.1%, and for Yemen mobile was 44.0% as shown in fig

5 4. Conclusion Fig. 3. Readiness of telecommunications companies to deploy WiMax In this paper a questionnaire was used to collect necessary data to do an assessment of telecommunication companies' infrastructure readiness to deploy WiMax in Yemen. However, the telecommunication companies are not ready enough to implement WiMax for several reasons, such as they do not have a suitable infrastructure that support WiMax, and most of them need to upgrade to at least 3G network to deploy WiMax. Acknowledgements This work was partially supported by the Universiti Putra Malaysia, Research University Grant Scheme (RUGS Number: 05/03/10/1039RU) and by Alandalus University Yemen. References [1] Pareek, D. Front Matter, in The Business of WiMax, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, UK; [2] Ahson, S., Ilyas, M. WiMax Standards and security. Boca Raton; CRC Press, [3] Nichols, S. J. V. Achieving Wireless Broadband with WiMax, Computer 2004; 37: 6, [4] Sabafon profile, Retrieved from on October [5] MTN profile, Retrieved from on October [6] Y company, Retrieved from on October [7] Yemen mobile, Retrieved from on October [8] Bugshan, H. B., Sohail, M. S., WiMax system in Saudi Arabia: deployment issues and development of marketing strategy. Int. Journal of Business and Systems Research 2010; 4:2, [9] Jha, R. K. & Dalal, U. D., How WiMax will deploy in India. IJACSA - International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications 2010; 1, [10] Ahuja, S. P., Collier, N. An Assessment of WiMax Security. Communications and Network 2010; 2:2,