Next-Generation Broadband Networks

Broadband wireless access is viewed by many telephone and cable operators as a "disruptive" technology and rightly so. The broadcast nature of wireless transmission offers ubiquity and immediate access for both fixed and mobile users, clearly a vital element of quadruple play services involving voice, video, data, and mobility. Unlike wired access (copper, coax, fiber), a large portion of the deployment costs is incurred only when a subscriber signs up for service. The first part of the tutorial will provide a comparative assessment of the standards and technologies underpinning promising broadband wireless access solutions. Key standards include 802.16 (Wi-Max), 3G/4G/LTE, mobile digital TV broadcast, and 802.22 (wireless regional area network) with emphasis on the 802.16 standard. Key technologies include multimedia support, multiple antenna transmission, cognitive radio, and fixed-mobile convergence.