Capacity effects on terrestrial broadband wireless access networks, operating in the LMDS frequency band, during rainfall conditions

System level design considerations are examined for terrestrial broadband-wireless-access (BWA) networks, operating in the frequency allocation intended for local-multipoint-distributed-services (LMDS). Propagation effects for 30 GHz transmission are outlined, with particular emphasis on non-uniform rainfall attenuation. The network reaction to varying positions and rates of rainfall attenuation are evaluated. It is shown that rain attenuation effects may lead to a reduced level of system interference, but the level of this is heavily governed by the location of the rain event. Conclusions are made regarding the effects of rainfall attenuation on system capacity.