Development of Wireless IP Access System (STEP 2 low-cost advanced version
NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories developed the Wireless IP Access System (WIPAS STEP2), which uses the 26-GHz frequency band and combines wireless technology with an optical network. Services were made available over the STEP 2 system beginning in July 2003 in Haramachi city, Fukushima Prefecture for its civilian municipal access system. In November 2003, NTT East and NTT West added it to their menus of B FLETS service offerings. The number of shipped WT is approximately 5,800 units.
Moreover, NTT reduced the equipment cost drastically and added advanced functions. Services based on the our new Wireless IP Access System (low-cost and advanced version) will be made available beginning in 2004.
Background
High-speed Internet access over optical fiber, ADSL, CATV, and other networks has become rapidly available in recent years. Yet there are still many users who cannot enjoy access to these broadband environments due to the difficulties posed by deploying fiber-optic cable or simply because services have not been made available in their areas due to cost considerations. With the goal of providing high-speed Internet access to these previously inaccessible pockets of users, NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories developed the Wireless IP Access System (WIPAS) STEP 2.
Moreover, NTT reduced the equipment cost drastically and added advanced functions.
Overview
Figure 1 shows a service image of WIPAS. This system provides a best-effort and minimum bandwidth guarantee type IP service, and the wireless bandwidth is shared fairly among the WTs that are connected to the same AP. This system uses quasi-millimeter-waves in the 26 GHz band, and the maximum wireless transmission rate of this system is 80 Mbit/s. The wireless transmission rate can be changed adaptively depending on the quality of the wireless circuit. The maximum transmission distance is approximately 1.7 Km (*).
Access points (APs) are installed on telephone poles, and are connected to IP networks by optical fiber cables. Wireless terminals (WTs) are installed on customer premises. A WT is connected to a PC using Ethernet cables and a WT-adapter.
This system offers a Point-to-Point communication service that uses WT pairs.
(*) Standard design values with a cumulative 20 minutes of circuit interruption due to rain fall attenuation of the radio signal per year.
In Japan, the maximum transmission distance is approximately 1.2 Km.
Future works
Services based on the Wireless IP Access System (STEP 2 low-cost advanced version) will be made available in the beginning of 2004. In the future, we will increase the transmission rate, and develop a repeater for WIPAS.
Access* We do not accept inquiries regarding this article.
First Promotion Project FWA Development Project
Kazuhiko Inoue (Supervisor),Mitsuhiro Baba (Senior Research Engineer), Keiichiro Sugimoto (Senior Research Engineer), Yoshiyuki Yasui (Research Engineer), Katsutoshi Nidaira (Research Engineer)
