An interesting article on wireless broadband and emerging OFDM systems:
shorecliffcommunications.com
“OFDM is intriguing,” said Tony Klinkert, director of network planning and technology at WorldCom, which owns 160 MMDS licenses in 100 U.S. markets. Klinkert says WorldCom has tested several vendors’ OFDM-based equipment. “We have seen a distinct improvement in coverage using OFDM, so vendor claims seem to be true.”
-Both Worldcom and Sprint are doing or plan to do trials through the summer on OFDM systems. Sprint says that they will deploy at least two cities with 2 G systems by the end of the year.
“It costs about $20,000 to build a broadband fixed wireless network compared with $250,000 for a fiber last-mile network,” making LMDS and other high-frequency services a natural for serving fiber-less businesses, said Frank Jules, president and chief operating officer at WinStar Communications, Inc.. WinStar, along with Teligent, is one of the world’s largest holders of above 10-GHz spectrum licenses.
-Anyone who thinks fiber TTH is cost competitive, better think again. How does fiber compete with sub $500 cost of OFDM? For that matter, how does xDSL?
WorldCom’s Klinkert adds that he’d still like to see lower-cost CPE (under $400, compared with common $750 first-generation CPE), reductions in power consumption, less bulky equipment, and more efficient transmitters. “We’d like this by the end of the year. Some vendors tell us that will be challenging; others say it is doable within reason.”
Startup NextNet's CEO claims that they will be able to supply OFDM systems now for around $400 and for less than $200 within a few years. Raze, Mailbu and others say it will be closer to $400 per CPE. It looks like these claims are getting closer to being real. |
