Overview

One of the major misperceptions regarding 802.11b and other wireless protocols is that the range is limited to 100m and thus proves impractical as a last mile solution. The truth is that with proper engineering, 802.11b can reach beyond 20 miles from point to point. In the quest for PSTN bypass, this is one of the most exciting developments. By steering an antenna in the direction of the subscriber's home, the service provider can bring broadband wireless to masses of homes without so much as stringing a single strand of copper wire, digging up a single street, or engaging in a single legal battle for right of way.

How can a service provider cover a residential market with access points that have a maximum range of 100m? Such a scenario would result in a service that is not economically viable due to the limited range of the 802.11 infrastructure. If a Vo802.11 service is to be economically viable, its infrastructure must have the access points (radios and antennas) that have a range far greater than 100m. Such products are coming on the market; in fact, some products now cover several square miles. By utilizing the infrastructure to get greater coverage, more subscribers can be serviced per access point, making any Vo802.11 service more economically viable if not profitable.

Furthermore, new wireless protocols for MANs provide for the construction of wireless networks that can cover whole cities. Ad hoc peer-to-peer networks stretch the range of a wireless network with a...