WiMAX SBC-REQ and SBC-RSP: Basic Capability Negotiation

This page details the fixed WiMAX basic capability negotiation between a Base Station (BS) and a Subscriber Station (SS), as defined by the IEEE 802.16 MAC layer specifications. Specifically, it covers the WiMAX SBC-REQ and SBC-RSP message formats. The primary purpose is for the SS to inform the BS of its fundamental capabilities.

The SS transmits the SBC-REQ, which the BS receives. Upon receipt, the BS responds with an SBC-RSP message. The process unfolds as follows:

• After ranging completes, the BS waits for the SBC-REQ message from the SS.
• If the BS doesn’t receive the SBC-REQ message within the time specified by timer T9, it releases and ages out the allocated Basic and Primary Management CIDs.

Important Timers:

• Timer T17: The time allowed for the SS to complete authorization and key exchange.
• Timer T9: Registration timeout.

WiMAX SBC-REQ

The following table provides a typical example of WiMAX SBC-REQ message values transmitted by a WiMAX-compliant SS.

WiMAX SBC-RSP

The subsequent table shows a typical example of WiMAX SBC-RSP message values transmitted by the BS in response to the SBC-REQ received from the SS.