The repeater function in DECT access technology as a system enhancement for PCS applications

Within the mobile communications scenario, the DECT (Digital European Cordless Telecommunications) systems give rise to an increasing interest, addressing various and new market segments. The potential of the DECT standard is due to the variety of offered services, and the possibility of coping with different application scenarios, combined with the limited cost of the equipment. Generally the DECT (operating in the 1880-1900 MHz range) appears competitive in serving high traffic areas (it is able to clear traffic figures approaching 10000 Erlang/sq km/floor) and can cover urban, suburban and also spots in rural environments, without the need for frequency planning. The ETSI (European Telecommunications Standard Institute) has made great efforts in enhancing and making the DECT access technology flexible, by defining a new network element, the Wireless Relay Station (WRS). This paper giver an overview of DECT radio coverage possibilities and related service quality. A description of the REP WRS radio access strategy and the offered performance is given. The WRS has been defined by the ETSI in an ETS (European technical standard) describing two concepts, one of which is named the Repeater Part (REP).