Emerging mobile and personal communication systems

The market demand for wireless communications has been demonstrated by the rapid growth of different second-generation wireless technologies that are optimized for particular applications and environments. Obvious examples include: digital cellular systems like GSM, ADC, PDC,and DCS1800 for widespread vehicular and pedestrian services, and cordless telecommunication systems based on CT2, DECT, and PHS standards for residential, business, and public cordless access applications. Efforts are also underway to consolidate the various radio environments and applications under a single standard for third generation wireless, i.e., FPLMTS. In the area of personal mobility, with the recent availability of "personal" numbers in various countries (e.g., 500 numbers in the United States), many fixed network operators are starting to offer such personal mobility services as "personal number service" and "number portability". These services represent initial stages of full personal mobility that will be provided by UPT in both wireline as well as wireless environments. The expected heavy demand for PCS in the United States and the underlying market/regulatory forces are driving the standardization and business activity. A number of air interface standards for the 1900 MHZ PCS band are being considered, which are based on TDMA, CDMA, and FDMA technologies singly or in combination. Many are variations of existing digital cellular and cordless telecommunications technologies. PCS networking standards are also being developed; both for standalone systems and for systems that will utilize public switched network capabilities.<>