Flexible and upgradable network access techniques based on an IP approach could help wireless systems solve the access-speed challenge.

In today's fiercely competitive telecom market, wireless technologies must continually push the boundaries to keep up with hikes in wireline speed, where 8Mb/s access is now being offered to the domestic market at a very competitive price. Flexible and upgradable network-access techniques based on an IP approach may offer a solution.

A further challenge is the need to ensure a basic level of interoperability between multiple mobile technologies and standards, as well as achieving some degree of component and subsystem reusability. With constant pressure to upgrade networks for higher throughput, systems thus need a measure of "future-proofing." Software upgradability seems to be the answer on this front. In this article, we propose a network-access solution for equipment manufacturers looking to future-proof products to keep up with the volatile mobile data environment.

Wireless roadmap

We've seen rapid and dynamic progress made on the mobile-technology landscape—from GSM via GPRS and EDGE to 3G and now High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) as an enhancement to 3G. The latter offers megabit-per-second download speeds to the user over a true packet data connection. And with its uplink counterpart HSUPA, it can satisfy most immediate mobile-data needs.

Nevertheless, the cost of entry for 3G operators has been huge, evidenced by high charges to the user. There are also limited opportunities for new operators to join. Consequently, WiMAX, which employs a multiple-access technique that uses orthogonal frequency channels rather than wideband spreading codes, is proving an attractive alternative.