This chapter provides what the author terms “an educated guess” about future developments in the technologies of wireless networks and air interfaces (Mullett 2006).
Section 13.1: Introduction to Emerging Wireless Technologies discusses possible future trends in this sector of telecommunications and tries to predict the effects of developing and new technologies. 3G technology provides our society with “anywhere, anytime high-speed connectivity” for voice and data. The author foresees the capacity and speed of semiconductor devices continuing to increase and hardware costs continuing to fall, as wireless technologies continue to be more versatile and to be more widely deployed around the world (Mullett 2006 pp. 582-584).
Section 13.2: New and Emerging Air Interface Technologies predicts the next wireless technology generation to be faster (speeds approaching 1 gbps) and to provide a higher degree of security. Mullett sees greater numbers of users through cognitive radio technology, whereby a wireless device can automatically adjust its frequency and other parameters to suit its location and the operation of other wireless devices nearby. Other techniques to facilitate high-efficiency high-speed wireless networks are Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) and Ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless technologies. The Figure on the following page shows the principle of operation of a typical MIMO system. Infrared technology, otherwise known as “free space optics” provides a possible wireless solution, though for a minority of applications, which for the most part are likely to be temporary in nature. Also, the ongoing advances in semiconductor technology – particularly in the area of RF front end devices – will be a major contributor to the advancement of high speed wireless networks (Mullett 2006 pp. 584-593).
Section 13.3: New Wireless Network Implementations discusses the upcoming 4G wireless technology coupled with other techniques such as cognitive radio and the integration with WLAN systems to provide more flexible and reconfigurable systems (Mullett 2006 pp. 593-600).
Section 13.4: IEEE 802.20/Mobile Broadband Wireless Networks considers the future of mobile broadband wireless supporting vehicles moving at up to 250 km/hour. At this stage, Mullett sees the future developments as uncertain, possibly culminating in the merging of IEEE standards groups and the cellular industry (Mullett 2006 p.601).
Section 13.5: Satellite Ventures and Other Future Possibilities reviews the lack of progress to date in the concept of a global broadband network based on a network of Earth satellites in either low or medium orbits. Although there is already a geostationary satellite system facilitating Internet access, but Mullett expresses doubts as to whether other providers will enter that market, to provide part of a global telecommunications infrastructure that he sees as still being a long way off (Mullett 2006 pp. 602-603).
Typical MIMO Wireless Antenna System
(Source: Mullett: Wireless Telecommunications and Networks. p.588)
Work Cited:
Mullett, Gary, J. Wireless Telecommunications and Networks. 1st ed. New York. Thomson Delmar Learning. 2006. Print.
