BROADBAND DIRECT TO HOME/USER WIRELESS SYSTEMS LMDS Systems and their Application Agne Nordbotten, Telenor R&D represent a new radio-based access technology ‘wih cellular architectore offering flexible high- ‘pacity connections to private users and orgeni- ‘ations, The systems employ a poin-to-mulipoint broadcast downlink with total eapacity of 34-38 [Mbis per transport stream, giving high flexibility for inchision of any type of data, The interactive channel, being a point-to-point connection, may ‘employ different technologies depending on fwailabilty and user demand for capacity, Th Capacity may basically range from a few Kllobits per second up to atleast 25.6 Mls, LMDS per- formance relative to other broadband access technologies is discussed. A major remaining evelopment task isthe establishment and vetife baton of methods for coverage of normelly Shielded aveas, The availability af cheap repeaters ‘nd possibly reflectors for inoteased ewerage is ‘must, which will significantly improve eoverage. ‘The LMDS technology, now in Its frst stage of implementation, is expected to enhance develop- tment of broadband services such as e-commerce ‘nd tee-teaching InTRODUCTION ‘The main focus area in ‘ommunications today is the provision of efficient transport capacity at ‘geepiable eos for the last mile connection, the nocess network. The need for on-demand broad- bund capacity for all types of wsers of communi ‘ations has inreased ata romuarkable speed 28 a consequence of the use of the Internet, and the professional dependence on electronic document trchange and database techaology. ‘The early growth phase of Internet-related applications coincides with the introduction of digital television by satellite offering new interes ing possiblities such as interactive TV, and sup porting new broadband services such as electronic ‘commerce, tele-education, and telemedicine ‘Network operators are facing the broadband requirement challenge by improving esting teh- nologies and developing new operation systems, ‘The broadband moltimedia focus is the driving Force inthe ongoing development uf technologies for both mobile and fixed networks, and with strong requirements for efficient interoperation ‘tween the different network technologies Broadband access nctwork development is ‘being forced from hoth the communication side ‘developed into two-way networks theo) fudition ofan intraetve channel that Ye ‘often is basod on a different technology (1-3). The conversion of broadcast satelite networks and ‘able TV networks into interactive networks representative examples. From the communica- tions side the existing copper notwork offers por- sibilities for transport capacities in. the megabils-per-second range depending an the sistance fo the nearest nado, Fiber to the bome, the proferred solution, is expensive and time= ‘consuming co install, but is gradually becoming ‘the main connection for demanding professional user groups, 'New radio-bated technologies such as strato spheric platforms and local multipoint distribu tion systems (CMDS) are boing developed and put into operation, They have the advantage of high-capacity dowalink which ean be shared by many users ina flexible manne TEMDS are now being introduced throughout the world, The US. frequency auction in March 1998 represented a start for mass introduction and production, In Europe there were licenses in sev- ‘ral counties in easly 2000, and systems wil be in ‘operation within the year, Broadeast in eombins- tion withthe Internet will daminate the private marker through the introdietory phase, but there will also be strong focus on home offices and smaller enterprises, The advantages of LMDS are ‘cay operation and deployment, tlexcbily ia oo: ‘demand capacity allocation, and potential support for a broad spectrum af applications, allewing for fare development, This aricle focuses on LMDS and their operational principles, their potential find areas of application. THE PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION Basic PrincipLes LMDS are combined high-capacity radio-based ‘communications and broadeast systonts with interactivity operated at millimeter frequencies. Early systems, however, were mainly used for analog TY distribution, and ital started with Cellular Vision and Berbard Bossard proposing a system for TV distribution in central New ‘York City [4]. Digital television opened for « combined iransport of data representing TV programs, data, and comuunication, The possi- bility of implementing a full-service broadband aecoss network by rebuilding broadcast net- ‘work into an interactive network by functionally 0103-ss0/00810.00 © 2000 THEE [IEEE Communizations Magarine * June 2000adding a communications channel for the return ‘wast Fealiy that coincided almost perfedy with the growih ofthe Internet and date services. ‘Broadband interactivity sezived with digital Lr nt dowalink and a point-to-poine uplink, as Hiotated in Fg 1 "The transmitter site should be on top ofa tll building of om a high pole overlooking the ser- vigo area, The transmitter covers & stor typeal- ty 60-00" wide. Full coverago thus requires 4-6 Uransmitters. The stveums transmitted contain 234-38 Mhis of data addressed to crerybody (3p ‘eal TV) inthe coverage zone, subgroups ov in viduals (ypical communication, Internet). The ‘apacty of the point to point retuen channels is fetormined bythe needs of the individual ser ‘Operation of LMDS in aa area will normaly requite a cluster of ells with separate base sa tions fo co-located transmicter/oceivor sites ‘ne of the base station sites will ozve as eo ‘ordination eonter forthe franchise area and eam nect the LMDS cells to external networks Intercell networking may be implemented using ‘per or short hop radio relay connections, Co= location with mobile base stations allows for infrastructure sharing ‘Operation in the millimeter range imposes some restrictions, Precipitation fects lead to severe attenuation and limit the rellablo range fol operation to 3-5 km depending on the el matic zone and te frequency of operation. Line ‘of sight also required. Ful coverage will hows fever not be possible, and aumbers quoted are normally in the 40-70 percent rango, while something in access of 9S percent is a minimum, for a service offered to the public. Improved coverage i ths roquired and may be obtained in differene ways. The numbors quoted refer to slagle colls By introducing some overlapping betieen cals it may be posible to obtain caver- rage inhielded arcas in one cell from the neigh Doving cell transmission site, Use of repeaters and reflectors are other possibilities, but that requires some additional equipment, which is compensated for by increasing the number af ‘sors, Thus different site dependent ways of ‘operation will solve the coverage problem. The frost sovoro restriction may be the attonvation ‘caused by transmission through vegetation, Buildings completely shiolded by vegetation need an clevated rooftop antenna or some broadband connection to an unshielded site Propagation Issues are by now well understood land are nat considered a serious obstacle for Feliable operation of millimeter systems of eels architecture, The problems are known and ‘proper precautions eat he takes (3). “Trials performed in many countries have reported promising results, The ACTS project ‘CRABS performed operational and user fal several European countries from Norway to Grovce in the north-south direction and from UK to Central Russia in the West ‘East dice tion {6-8}. The differences encountered did not severely eect operation, and the tras hal com Vining offeess locally, Systeme planing tools for availabilty and coverage based on digital maps fre considered insportant for design of local tems aeehiteetae, Figure 1. The opoatin of LMDS for broudas andi senices FREQUENCIES OF OPERATION Even though the capacity i the millimeter part ot the spectrum is considerable, there are many systems competing for fequeng) allocation, nd ithas been difficult 1 obtain a worldwide alloc tion for LMDS. Tn the United States 1.3 GHz in the 28-29 GHiz bund has been alloested, while European, countries ure allocating frequencies in diferent bands, The main high-capacity band is presently 40.5-12.5 GH with a possible extension to 43.5 GHz depending on decisions at the year 2000 ‘World Radio Frequensy Conference (WRC 2000), ‘Liconsing and deployment in Europe now Indicate that thore wil be ystems in different Frequency bands from 24 Giz up to 43.5 Gliz ‘The frequency band 24.5-26.6 GHz with sub= bands of S6 MHz has been opened for point-10- multipoint applications in many European counties, ‘Theso bands may thon be used for cither EMDS or related ystems called fted wire- less aceese (FWA). The sjstems en then Be typi- cal multipoint business systems with some ‘pacity for private users. Only systems address Jing the business domain are typically based om ATM technology ‘The i) GHz band will normally be shared among two oF thee licenses, limiting the avall- able spectrum per operator to 500-2000 MEz ‘with to polarizations. The licensing poicy may ‘ary from country t@ country, with stimolation to ‘competition as the tain guideline, The LMDS have the potential of becoming the high-capacity access domain for private users, TECHNOLOGIES EMPLOYED Proven technologies required for service startup exist, and difforent companies have products, svailable addvessing the needs of small business ‘eustomers and, 10 some extent, also demanding private users Tn LMDS the high-capacity brondesst-basea downlink is shared among several users ina flex inte way. The front-end telinology is will expen: sive at millimeter frequencies, but existing high ‘lestron mobility transistor (HEMT) modules offer the required performance. The output power level needed per transport beam of 36, hj is about 25 JB. A cebnlogy allowing for final stage amplification of several transport bbeams would reduce equipment complexity an east, The hub transmitior, however, ace shared EEF Conmunizaions Magazine «June 2010, 1st| [wisted conper ale Figure 2. Available access technologies. by many wer, and costs mot ret crt "The teontend ochnoloy a 30 Ges ore expensive than at 28-99 Ga, and atenntion by prespation increase wil equency, favor Jing the lower frequency rangos: The higher ply fered at te may compensate thee elo th og su “The momber of tangport streams is det tuned by demand and Wotan se by aa $e specu. his gies a scl teeta, Sang with cathy tow sapacy nd sing cramer es demand een “The tranenissionfoomat for Digital Video Broudanting (DVB) stelite tara bed tn quatre pase shit eying (OPSK) modi Into has been adopted by oth Dig ‘Auto Vsual Couneit (DAV) and the DVB projec i the sane aes 950-2150 Bitte, between th outdaor and inoat units. ‘This allows for appliestion of set-top boxes descloped for reseton of gal TV by satelite sith data inctaded in the transport moplex. ‘he is then fed into a se-op box inert A7TV oe a PC of both ia paalel, depending ot Sueroncnttion, Both options aw for irae lviysnc stop bored ae so capped with 4 return channel connection to-the public Evitchl felophone network (PSTN) ASDN ‘There ae somo diferenes, however. In DVB Wor ATM date are incded in the MPEG transport stream in combination wth TV pro gram DAVIC hat separ igenpacly ATM- Brsod data transmlasions Until now the PCoricated sor han dominic he interactive Worl the development of interactive TY, with poses for manipulation af ante nls Sion of more vanced tox TV, posses fr ommerc,ifferent games, ant ative part pation in somptitons, wl ed to an neressed Interest in interactive television with ow ‘spay tetum shanna the uplink ste indi connection, and citterent cehnolgics may be tued depeing ‘i demand Two of the brosthand devin spp ‘ition iaerace TV andthe Internet, wll eit onylcspacty etn ink, snd Mologie ike Genoral Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and PSTNASDN will suis. For more demanding customers an in-band radio return link with on-demand capacity is required. The radio-based solutions for small and medium- zed enterprisos do havea radirlinkstype return Fink, allowing for symmetric connections or cone nections which may be asymmetric in elther ircetion. However, itis fll that existing radio Fettrn solutions, with thelr requirement fori Tation between transmit and receive implement fd through the use of allocated bands jrolted by filtering for transmitreccive, put limitations on exible operation and effcient resource manage ent. A combined use of systoms for broadeast ul data for both private users and business ‘organizations will necessarily rosult in strong. ‘variations in eapaeity forthe two directions. Pos: sible foturetime-civision duplex (TDD) opera- tioo would solve this problem. “The main technological challenge is production ‘of areal fow-cost two-way user terminal forthe rive marke; the mase market depends oni “The total capacity of ¢sysern mainly deter. ‘mined by the available frequency tesoure. In a cellular system employing OPSK modulation, the capacity of a2 GF system is easily 15 Gbis per cell for dowlink an! uplink. LMDS vs. OTHER ACCESS TECHNOLOGIES LMS provides « wireless alternative t cons, and asynchronousvery subscriber ine (ADSLIVDSL) aad offers igh pacity locally compared with otiner radio so tions ike interactive satelite systems and strato- spheric platforms. The different technologies contributing to broadband access networking al have clear advantages and drawhacks re 2 show an access scenati for compe- iio in the home market, ‘There are basieally (wo gs0ups of technolo fies: wire-based, represented by optical fiber and ‘copper pair; and wirales, represented by satel= lite, stratospheric platforms, and LMDS. in general, at wireless technologies have broadeast/mlticast potential, making them well suited TV distibution and multicast data dis ‘ribution. The ineeasing storage capacity of PCs may lead 10 an increasing number of home servers, favoring the use of multicast and push Technology. Satelite systems, whict have low individual capacity per user within the area of coverage, have the advantage of total coverage indepen- ent of local population density. They are thus ‘well suited to broadcast, updating of servers in _note local networks like LMDS, and broadband to rural areas and in areas with poor infra~ siteture, LMDS is well suited to interoperation with froadeast-based satellite systems For focal istributon, aad the satellite sytem likewise for ‘connecting remote LMDS colls, AC TBC "98 in Amsterdam, a system far remote control of LMDS cells fram a sutin cell in Norway Was demonstrated by the ACTS projoct CRABS [6] ‘The stratospheric platform has yet to demon- ae ils operability. From its elevated position ‘twill have good! ceveraye. Attenuation effects 182 {EL Communications Mogvin + Jone 2000,will be approximately the same as for LMDS, And tho capacity per square kilometer somewhat less, Operation in Nosdic areas will be dificalt ddue'to short days with reduced solar cell charg- ng duting the winter season Interactive cable netwurks will have 500-1000 housohokls connected to each todo. They have a imited capacity for the return channel and thus are not well sulted when a high-capacity fetven chaunol is demanded simultaneously by many tsers. They have te advantage of combining delivery of TV, Internet, and telophoay in an eicient way. ‘The existing copper wire connections offer 2-5 Mbjs downlink and 384-512 kbis uplink ‘apacity through intoduction of ADSL. tectnolo- by, sufficient for most private Internet users foday, but not for TV provision, The distance to the nearest node is somewhat critical, and will typically be inthe range of 2-5 km depending on the quality ofthe existing installations. I his ds- tance is reduced below km, the enpacity may be Increased (© 25 Mb/s for the downlink and 2 Mbis forthe uplink. VDSL is aso sufficient for ‘TY provision inthe form of separate TV pra- grams, but not for transport streams containing four to eight digital programs. xDSL technologies ‘olong to existing operators they have an upper capacity determined by the distance to the node and ually of the connection. They have reduced ‘capacity for syhunetrie operation, and represent a ‘pica Invern and delivery technology. Tinteraetive systems are all ina way cellular systems if we consider the distance to the near~ est ode asthe min pasameter, In genera, high nicractive capacily of a system requires & short tance to the acarest node and either 4 high total node capacity, as in LMDS, of 9 high- capacity connecting eable, represented by the ‘ther solution, EMDS is favorable for operation in urban and suburban areas, and is finitely the preferred solution for operators without a bopper network and asa supplement to the cope per-based and interactive cable sctworks. “Table I lists the capacity of different access (echinologies. "Anolicr Important parameter is the total capacity per square kilometer. LMDS will, depending on cell diameter and licensed fro- ‘queney range, have a tal capacity of 150-1500 Mbisikm?, while other radie technologies like LEO satellites and stratospheric platforms have 100 kivs and 1 Mbis, respectively, per km? The smaller oll size however reduces tho strength of the broadeast/multicast Focal domain, and makes tt very eflicient tor dis tribution locally. Table 2 lists a few cadio-based technologies illustrating the superiority of LMDS ‘0m local eapaciy LEMS has the potential for playing a central sole inthe broadband accoss network now unde development where diferent broadband tech= nologies Tike xDSL, interactive eable systems, multimedia satelite ystems, riber to the homes ‘ystems, and LMDS will exist in bots cooperation nd competition as important components of the network. In the thied generation mobile network ‘with smalfor cells than the LMDS network, the pacity af Use LMDS system makes it wel suited for connections to UMTS base stations Te ‘Analogue modem 144-33.6Khys _144-93.6 Kale IsoN 128 kis 28K ADs. 304 Ks 2 Mbis eo Kis 5-aMbs vost 640 Ks 13 Ms 2M 25 Mos CCableModems_0-384Kbvs___ 30 Mlys (hares Satelite, OVB-RCS 2 bs 36 Mis shared) aos 0-8 Ms typical 36 MNS shared) 258 Mok possible NA NA 6 2a th os NA, Not ited 5 Table 1, Capac comparison of some avaiable acess technologies. Technology Celt area Capacity per ket Terestil LMS. 2-20;en? 1500-150 Ms EO sataites Upto Law semi-glbal Leossatelines 3000 km? 100 ks Swatospheric 510k? 1 Mbis platforms Table 2. Local capacity of some radio based ‘access technologie. APPLICATIONS LLMDS is frst of alla system of high flexibility, allowing for capacity on demand. Changing the ‘el size through seduction of eter eal diame: ter or illumination angle inereases total capacity. Its flexibility with regard to high on-femand capacity in both directions makes it well suited to home oifices and teleteachiag in the locil onvain, The fist major applications ara TV, Internet, and busiess-orientod, thus combining professional and crtertainment we. In Europe LMDS was considered a supplementlternaiive to eable TV and was actually referred to 38 wie= less cable, With digital television the possibility for convergence of TV, data, and communica tions opened up development of now broadband applications. Hopeflly, the availability of broad- band expacity will stimulate the growth of appli- ‘out relly taking of FROM TELEVISION TO INTERACTIVE TELEVISION “The TV business lias had strong growl, but the time spent by individuals watching TV has not ‘hanged very much. Digital TV represents new Possibilities. The frst step isthe introivetion and development of interactive TV, adding new and inoresting functionality. More local TV programs will ke advantage of LMDS. Interactive TV will stimulate growth in e-commerce; and the more Focal pat of if such as property tang, apartment renting, car buying ard selling, sud'many other Uplink data rate Downlink date rate Max range (rn) HEL Commuictons Magazine * June 2000 153‘esac The local focus of IMDS makes it ‘connections to clifferent levels, group of local schools as well as ‘connections to excellent for high-capacity schools at connecting a providing remote sites. fransections, wil ake advantage ofthe posses offered by local broadband networking, Telebunke ing and vacation planning are applications where Invoratve TV offers added functionally TELETEACHING Education, and updatingitceducation, is one of the major challenges in many countries today. Lack of educated and skilled teachers, partic larly in technology, isa common concern. Young, people of today may fave to be reeducated and henge their professional focus several times Afuring their working fein. ‘The local focus of LMDS makes it excellent for high-capacity connections to schools at dif ferent levels, connecting a group of local schools ss well ax providing connection to remote sites. [Local it woul then also be possible 0 con- ricet to homes and have lessons stored forthe ‘use of both pups and parents ‘Broadband access will offer possibilities in education we have barely started to explore. The ‘advantage of LMDS in this connection is the Hex in capacity allocation and the multicast property ofthe downlin, allowing very clicent ‘livery fortis type of applications, CONCLUSION “The broadhand secess marke is now emerging, In Furope, 2000 seems to represent a breakthrough {or digital TV, ADSL, interactive eable networks, and EMDS. Broadband abcess systems are gradu ily taking over connections w the hme icensos for LMDS are now being issued in aay countries deployment will take three fo five years. During this first phase, LMDS seems to Tiss besome a technology chosen by the second ‘nd thied operator. The Basins cas Looks attrac tive. Given license for operation, the technology is tapidly deployed and brought into operation. ‘The ena of establishing a backbone infstructare conecting fo the hubs uf the individual ols ses by fiber, stele, oF radio link ean be consider able, espectally i countries with x poor telacor- ‘munication inestructure, LMDS isa technolosy for time of geowing demand, Ic offers the flex bili for on-demand capacity rogeited ty the now “TV-related interactive and high-speed data sex- vices combinod with the increased dem for Toternet access, 1 represents & complement 10 and competition for ather broadband (ehnolo- fies such as cable, sarllte, and ADSL/VDSL. ‘Most important, it sa contetbution to broadband access technology, stimulating growth and devel- ‘opment of new applications in areas witha cer- {ain population density. It is not yet the technology for rural ate Wis expocted that avalabilty of high-capacity access 10 every home will greatly stimulate the evelopment of the information society. and bring areas lke teleteaching and e-commerce a major step forward, ReFeneNces 1b] E11 £15 300421, “Digital Brosdeasung Systems for ‘esl Sauna dna ata Sve rang Suu, Ensnnel Coding snd Welton fr 12 ie Sate fhe Seca,” Sophia Arp one. 1984. {a1 Ess 300 at “bigest video readeaing (vb Setorindpendent otro BV mes Sa ‘en Sopa As, one, 197 11 Esers Soc ain "og video traadeasting (Ova Interotion Chanel dheough PSIH0ISOR," sap nips, fase 105. 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