Open access networks

Abstract

This paper introduces an innovative approach to an Open Access Network (OAN) built upon the existing "privately owned" wireless LANs and the users' access lines (ADSUVDSL, optical fibre, cable modems). By providing up to 25Mb/s shared capacity to the stationary and casually visiting users in a wireless LAN zone, the OAN is probably the only realistic alternative to realize the future 3G and 4G visions for mobile communication. An OAN has the potential to integrate P2P communication into legacy networks, thus new market segments will be opened for network and service providers, and new and improved services can be offered to the customers. The paper contains a superficial analysis of the actual elements needed to realise the network. Also, some of the most important network behaviour and performance parameters are identified and discussed. © 2003 by Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.