Broadband Telecommunications Technologies and Management

10Terrestrial Broadband Wireless Telecommunications

Preview Questions

• How can a limited frequency resource be shared by a large subscriber base?
• What has characterised 1G → 2G → 3G → 4G transitions?
• What is the role of a base station in a packet-switched network
• How do multiple mobile users connect to a base station using OFDMA?
• How does MIMO technology work?

Learning Objectives

• Characteristics of terrestrial wireless channels
• Frequencies allocated for broadband services and reusing of this spectrum
• Multiple access systems
• Different generation of mobile communications standards
• Circuit and packet switching in wireless networks

Historical Note

Whereas wireline communications followed the invention of electricity by Alessandro Volta, wireless communications are based on the discoveries of a number of scientists including Hans Christian Ørsted, Michael Faraday, James Maxwell, and Heinrich Hertz (pictured)¹ on the propagation of electromagnetic waves in the air. In particular Hertz’ experiments, first reported in 1888, with equipment to generate, transmit and receive electromagnetic waves were essential to the invention of radio telegraphy in the late 19th century. He developed a device to produce an electromagnetic wave, means to transmit and receive the wave, and a means to detect the received wave, as shown in Figure 10.1. This equipment essentially facilitated the same processes of present day wireless telecommunications as used for example in mobile phones.

Besides Hertz’ experiments a number ...