WiMAX system design and evaluation methodology using the NS-2 simulator

The development of the IEEE 802.16 mobile broadband wireless access or WiMAX standards promises to usher the next generation of mobile wireless networks. There is considerable ongoing interest in evaluating the performance of such networks with simulations forming the primary tool for conducting such studies. This paper presents the design and implementation of the Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical layers of WiMAX based on IEEE802.16e standard on the ns-2 network simulator. Appropriate abstractions and methodologies are carefully chosen to ensure the maximal conformance of simulation to reality while keeping the computational complexity acceptable. Results that validate the accuracy of the simulator as well as those that describe its performance are presented.