Wi-Max is a broadband wireless network technology and it is a direct competitor of Digital Subscribers Lines (DSL). Wi-Max stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. WiMAX is also known as IEEE 802.16, that is intended for wireless "metropolitan area networks". It has different standards such as 802.16a, 802.16e and 802.16d.

WiMAX is a second-generation protocol that allows for more efficient bandwidth use, interference avoidance, and is intended to allow higher data rates over longer distances. It can provide broadband wireless access (BWA) up to 30 miles (50 km) for fixed stations, and 3 - 10 miles (5 - 15 km) for mobile stations. In contrast, the WiFi/802.11 wireless local area network standard is limited in most cases to only 100 - 300 feet (30 - 100m).

With WiMAX, WiFi-like data rates are easily supported, but the issue of interference is lessened. WiMAX operates on both licensed and non-licensed frequencies, providing a regulated environment and viable economic model for wireless carriers.

Wi-Max is the next step of Wi-Fi and it provides the maximum speed up to 70Mb/sec. Wi-Max services are of two types wired and wireless. In the wireless services come Wifi Wi-Max 802.16 and WPAN. WiMAX can be used for wireless networking in much the same way as the more common WiFi protocol.

Further under Wi-Fi comes WLAN that covers less distance as compared to Wi-MAX. The main difference between the Wi-Fi and Wi-Max is that Wi-Fi is a base band and Wi-Max is a broadband.