The Telecommunications Industry Association’s TR-45 Mobile and Personal Communications Systems engineering committee created a new work group that will address fixed wireless access and wireless local loop applications, said the organization.
The group-TR-45.4.1-is assigned to the TR-45.4 Radio to Switching Technology subcommittee, which is responsible for “performance, compatibility and interoperability standards for public mobile and personal communications systems.”
The group was created because of interest expressed by many sectors of the wireless industry, including the International Telecommunication Union and other European standards-setting groups, said TIA.
“TIA’s action to develop FWA/WLL standards is designed to ensure that the United States maintains a global leadership role in this highly important area,” said TIA. “Standards for FWA/WLL will be an essential element in achieving legitimate competition in the local loop.”
Jack Taylor, president of TSS Associates and a member of the working group, said the standards process will have two differentiating features. First, the standard will be focused around fixed wireless replacement of wired loops rather than WLL suboptimized on traditional wireless systems. Second, the standards will be third-generation compatible, supporting data speeds of between 384 kilobits per second to 2 megabits per second.
According to Taylor, several companies, such as WinStar Communications Inc., have been offering fixed wireless services in high frequency bands. The working group is examining fixed wireless services in lower frequency bands that would support longer loops.
While the standard would be frequency independent, Taylor said the WCS band or even D-, E- and F-block PCS frequencies would be candidates for fixed wireless access services. Seven companies are in the working group, which will meet July 27-31 in Boulder, Colo.
