An Assessment of WiMax Security

Abstract

For a broadband wireless standard such as WiMax, security is important and must be addressed. This is to ensure wide acceptance both from the perspective of the end users and the service providers. In order to com-pete with existing broadband cable or DSL services, the WiMax network must offer comparable security. We discuss the WiMax security mechanisms for authentication, encryption, and availability. We also discuss potential threats to WiMax security. This paper will also discuss how and why these threats play an impor-tant role in the adaptability of WiMax.