Introduction

Fixed wireless is the use of wireless technology to provide voice, data, or video service to fixed locations. There are several fixed wireless systems that can replace or bypass services that have traditionally been provided by copper wire or fiber cable. Wired systems that may be replaced or bypassed include wired telephone service, high speed telephone communication links, cable television systems and local area network systems.

When the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was passed by Congress, the local telephone monopoly in the United States was expected to end, just as it did in the United Kingdom in early 1990s. Like the UK and the US, many countries are now deregulating telecommunications (PTT monopolies) by allowing new competition for local telephone, long distance telephone and cable services. For example, India and Indonesia will soon have wireless local loop providers competing with the existing telephone company.

The terminology of local telephone service and cable service as we know it is changing. Already some cable companies are offering local telephone service and some telephone companies are offering television services. New companies are being formed to compete with the local telephone and local cable companies. Many of these new entrants will use wireless as their access to the local loop. The use of wireless allows rapid deployment of services and reduces the cost of installing cables to each residence or building.

Using wireless systems instead of wired systems allows new entrants to keep the system construction costs down while deploying the systems quickly...