Evolution of wireless and personal communications. Road towards FPLMTS

FPLMTS (future public land mobile telecommunications system) will be the first wireless network, which applies the same basic radio technology for different environments, and which will provide global mobility to the users. The justification of FPLMTS is to open network operators and service providers to new and more powerful services and applications which can be tailored to the specific needs of a given user. These personalized services must be accessible through any network, at any time, in a uniformed way using a unique personal identity. This requires a flexible and powerful network infrastructure. One of the main challenges is how to ensure an orderly transition from current wireless and wireline systems to FPLMTS. The realization of FPLMTS requires not only an architecture that supports the vision of personal communication but also to strike a balance between reuse of investments already made and the introduction of new technologies so that the impact on existing networks can be minimized. FPLMTS must integrate technologies used in PSTN, PLMN, (B)ISDN and private networks to maximize utilization of existing infrastructure and achieve low-cost transport.