Challenges of Higher Speed Wireless Internet Access

Abstract

High speed wireless data services have been recently highlighted in many recent standard activities. The prerequisite for the growth of wireless data services is an efficient, low cost, and user friendly access method combined with proper application software. Third generation wireless systems promise more efficient wireless data services than those of current cellular systems. Recent proposals for next generation wireless communication technology have prompted numerous research efforts comparing different technologies for next generation systems. Variations of wide-band CDMA and TD-CDMA have been the strongest candidates for the physical layer of next generation cellular systems. Third generation technology promises data rates of up to 2 Mbps in small coverage areas for low mobility users, whereas, for some applications higher data rate in larger area is very desirable. That brings about another challenge regarding flexibility of third generation proposals to accommodate new services such as higher speed packet data, particularly in downlink, for wireless Internet access. Standardization activities of wireless LAN and some other high speed data services add another dimension to ubiquitous wireless data services. In this Chapter, we discuss technical challenges and requirements of these proposals and briefly study complexity of network and terminals for multi-mode, multi-band systems. Moreover, we discuss the proposed concept of integrating asymmetric high-speed wireless packet services with current cellular systems for third generation wireless data services.

ALGOREX Inc.