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Wireless loops: What are they?

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Abstract

Several loop applications of wireless technology are aimed at reducing the cost of deploying communications services ranging from telephone to wideband video. In these applications, wireless links replace a portion of a wireline loop from a central location (a central office or cable headend) to a subscriber. The replacement of labor-intensive wireline technology by complex mass-produced integrated electronics in wireless transceivers is projected to reduce the overall cost of the resulting loop. These wireless loop applications attempt to provide existing communications services or small modifications to existing communications services. A different interpretation of a wireless loop makes use of low-power digital radio technology to provide the last thousand feet or so of a loop. Low-power low-complexity wireless loop technology in small base units can be integrated with network intelligence to provide the fixed-infrastructure network needed to support economical personal communications services (PCS) to small, lightweight, low-power personal voice and/or data communicators. Low-complexity communicators can provide many hours of “talk time” or data transmission time and perhaps several days of standby time from small batteries (≤ 1.5 oz). Because this application of wireless loop technology can reduce the inherent costs in several parts of a wireline loop, it has the potential to provide convenient widespread PCS at less costs than providing telephone services over conventional wireline loops. This low-power wireless loop application does not fit into any existing communications system paradigm. Wireless technology with tetherless access and wide-ranging mobility, e.g., the personal access communications system (PACS), does not fit the accumulated wisdom of the wireline telephony paradigm. It also does not fit the paradigm of existing cellular radio that has sparsely distributed expensive cell sites, and it is not targeted at fixed video services as is wireless cable. Because a significant change in thinking is required in addressing this new low-power low-complexity widespread wireless loop paradigm, its large economic advantages and service benefits have not yet been embraced by many of the existing communications providers, who appear to be more comfortable pursuing the better-known paradigms of video using wireless cable, or of cellular radio in the guise of high-tier PCS, or in the guise of rapid economical deployment of telephone services in developing nations. This paper discusses the inherent economic advantages and service benefits of low-power low-complexity wireless loop technology integrated with network intelligence aimed at providing economical low-tier PCS to everyone.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical Engineering, Durand 305, Stanford University, 94305-9515, Stanford, California

    Donald C. Cox

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  1. Donald C. Cox
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Cox, D.C. Wireless loops: What are they?. Int J Wireless Inf Networks 3, 125–138 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02365823

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