An experimental hardware prototype for fixed wireless broadband access at 60-400 Mbit/sec in 4.6 MHz

While the race for a ubiquitous, reliable and cost effective wireless broadband system has generated intense competition, the fundamental problem afflicting the wireless industry is the cost of the transceiver hardware. We describe and discuss the results of some experimental outdoor field trials which demonstrate - for the first time - the hardware feasibility of fixed broadband wireless radio links with spectral efficiencies in excess of 50 bit/s/Hz in severe multipath frequency selective environments (non line-of-sight). Custom cost-effective hardware has allowed data transmission in the range 60-200 Mbit/s occupying a bandwidth of 2-4/5 MHz at MMDS frequencies (/spl sime/2.5 GHz). We also introduce a new modeling methodology inspired by basic theoretical physics which gives a different and practical perspective to the spatio-temporal transmission problem. We exploit the idea that extra-dimensionality can be created by properly sampling the wavefield space created by multipath propagation. Previously reported hardware experiments using the same concept have addressed the simpler problem of indoor communications in a 30 kHz cellular channel. The developed technology has the potential of making practical and cost effective the deployment of high capacity microwave data communications equipment for point to point and point to multipoint systems.