Wireless broadband access for the home and mobile user [Guest Editorial]

The tremendous success and exponential growth of the Internet, as well as novel applications such as data broad­casting and multicasting have resulted in the requirement for significantly higher speeds in network access. This increasing bandwidth demand cannot always be adequately satisfied with many of the traditional access techniques. Another element which has an important impact is mobility manifesting itself in the widespread use of cellular telephony. Digital cellular systems have become a service and technology driver in many parts of the world. ln some countries more than half of the population is already using cellular phones. The third generation of cellular phones will provide fairly high-speed access to the Internet and multimedia services. Broadband wireless access techniques are therefore becoming increasingly important.