TABLE OF CONTENTS After briefly introducing some basic concepts of 4G in Chapter 1, this chapter explores 4G in more detail, focusing on 4G visions and foresights, as well as on the shape that 4G could take by means of scenario-based methodology. Other important factors like user needs and trends as well as spectrum identifications for 4G will also be discussed. A user-centric approach to 4G is assumed in this chapter.
The deployment of International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) networks has started in several countries, and high-speed multimedia services are currently being provided and further developed. However, even at this introductory stage of 3G systems, enhancement activities have already started on a global scale. In fact, for several years already there have been active discussions and exchange of visions about systems beyond IMT-2000, commonly referred to as the fourth generation, or 4G for short, in various forums and organizations as well as in the open literature. The reasons for this early interest abound. One of the main driving forces for such a development is, without a doubt, the unrelenting demand for higher data rates and ubiquitous wireless access that the planned and foreseen applications and services are expected to generate. Equipment manufactures are in a key position and need to react promptly by developing technically sound and appealing solutions, capable of fulfilling users' and operators' expectations, within a common and global framework. This is a very complex procedure, where key manufacturing players must find a good balance between...
