LOW-TIER WIRELESS LOCAL LOOP RADIO SYSTEMS .1. INTRODUCTION

These two articles provide the results of a set of analyses conducted to compare two major radio technologies, DECT/PWT-E and PACS, for thei r suitability in the local loop in the United States to provide voice and data services. DECT, digital enhanced cordless telecommunications, is a radio interface standard developed in Europe mainly for indoor w ireless applications and being promoted lately for wireless local loop applications as well. PWT, personal wireless telecommunications, isa DECT-based standard developed by TIA in the United Stales for the unli censed PCS applications. PWT-E, enhanced, is the version that is suita ble for the licensed PCS applications. PACS, personal access communica tions systems, is a total system standard (i.e., radio interface and a ssociated network infrastructures) developed in the United States for licensed PCS applications. (PACS-UA and PACS-UB are the standards for the unlicensed PCS applications.) For the wireless local loop (WLL), w e make an assumption that the radio technologies operating in the lice nsed PCS spectrum are more suitable to provide a quality of service th at is expected traditionally from a local exchange company (LEC). Ther efore, this article focuses on the PACS and PWT-E, rather than PACS-UB and PWT. Also note that the article focuses on the North American ver sion, PWT-E, rather than the European version, DECT. Part 1 is an intr oduction to the PACS and PWT technologies. Part 2 provides a short ove rview of PHS and CCT and then compares the systems in proposed deploym ents in Jacksonville and Miami, Florida.