First Mile Access Networks and Enabling Technologies

Summary

In this chapter we covered an emerging standard for wireless metropolitan access networks. The need for which is evident in broadband first mile access networks for the transport of traffic to the end user on high-speed backbone links. As we discussed in Chapter 4, the emergence of the 802.11b standard has greatly thrust wireless data networking into the LAN area; this chapter concentrated on the entire metro access area, which is a prelude to first mile access. The emergence of the 802.16 standard, and the strong indications of its warm acceptance by the industry, has created a need for wireless MANs. These networks are typically beneficial for enterprise and small business solutions, where fiber cannot be laid and where copper does ...