Wireless Future - Telenor

vices in both public and private (home and corporate),
licensed and unlicensed environments.
The IP-based core network connects all radio
access networks, allowing for vertical hand-over
between complementary systems.
Project DRiVE 9) aims at spectrum-efficient
high-quality wireless IP provision in a heterogeneous
multi-mode/multi-band/multi-system
environment to deliver multimedia services, particularly
to vehicles, ensuring ubiquitous access
to information and support of “edutainment”. To
achieve this, DRiVE will build upon the complementarity
of various communication and interactive
broadcasting systems for the delivery of IPbased
multimedia services.
DRiVE adds to the BRAIN approach a new
Traffic Control (TC) layer enabling the selection
of the most appropriate/efficient Radio Access
Network (RAN) and eventually Dynamic Spectrum
Allocation (DSA) – see Figure 9.
Finally, project WSI 10) focuses on the initial
concepts for future wireless systems beyond 3G.
A think tank has been organised to promote discussion
and ventilate ideas, taking in the input of
the IST programme participants and industry at
large, and a “Book of Visions” is currently available.
A MultiSphere concept centred on the User is
proposed as a reference, spanning from PAN to
Immediate Environment to Instant Partners to
multiple Radio Access schemes to global Interconnectivity,
through which one has access to
the CyberWorld at large (see Figure 10).
The WSI partners (Alcatel, Ericsson, Nokia and
Siemens) have just launched a new initiative, the
Wireless World Research Forum (WWRF), open
to everybody interested in contributing, where
emerging concepts of 4G will be actively discussed.
At this point in time, the only thing certain is
that a lot of thought needs to be put into fleshing
out the concepts and gathering support from
industry. And, most important of all, in bringing
in expertise in the area of personal systems.
VII Conclusions
Fourth Generation is not a spoiler at a time when
all the attention focuses on the deployment of
3G, but a challenge that will provide, already in
the short term, some answers to the requirement
of integration of heterogeneous, hierarchical networks
for the purpose of optimally exploiting
all available assets.
10) www.ist-wsi.org
Telektronikk 1.2001
IU
DVB
DAB
DxB RAN
TX/MUX
Services QoS
Cost, Coverage
DSA
The result of such efforts of integration will be
essential tools to help operators manage their
increasingly complex networks and provide
seamless, efficient access to information – i.e.
to remain competitive.
Another strong motivation to start thinking now
about 4G is the long time, well above 10 years,
from the initial conceptual studies to the identification
of spectrum requirements to the assignment
of bands at WRC to commercial deployment,
not forgetting where appropriate the need
for regulation [2].
Finally, emphasising the role of private, mostly
unlicensed usage systems will create new market
opportunities, inclusive for public operators.
VIII Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to my colleagues at the European
Commission, especially Dr. João da Silva, and
many around the world that helped flesh out
these ideas, through long discussions and despite
IU
GSM/GPRS
Core
Network
(E)G RAN
TX/RX
Services QoS
Cost, Coverage
DSA
MSN
TC
IU
UMTS
Core
Network
UTRAN
TX/RX
Services QoS
Cost, Coverage
DSA
IU
WLAN
Mobility
support
Network
BRAN
TX/RX
Services QoS
Cost, Coverage
DSA
Figure 9 Architecture for
Traffic Control and Dynamic
Spectrum Allocation [Adapted
from the DRiVE Project]
Figure 10 MultiSphere Concept
[Source: WSI “Book of Visions”]
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