WIRELESS ATM - A PERSPECTIVE ON ISSUES AND PROSPECTS

In this article the author examines several key issues in wireless ATM and even offers possible resolutions for some. The primary difference s that distinguish wireless from wireline communications are presented , and a short summary of so-called second-generation digital cellular system concepts. The operation of a wireline ATM network, especially w ith regard to those aspects bearing on the feasibility of wireless ext ension, is briefly reviewed, as well as some key technologies which ma y be very important enablers for wireless ATM, and some possible appro aches for enabling bandwidth on demand (the media access problem) and maintaining service quality guarantees (the cell handoff problem), res pectively. Finally, a possible format for signaling and synchronizatio n, needed to ''tie it all together,'' is presented.