Paving the road to systems beyond 3G — The IST BRAIN and MIND projects

Wireless LAN technology is complementary to 3G systems and could be used to provide high bandwidth hotspot coverage, for example in railway stations and offices, in order to provide the high bandwidth video and broadband services such as those emerging on DSL fixed access. The IST Projects BRAIN and MIND have investigated a number of key technical enablers for such a “system beyond 3G.” These include scenarios and business models, design of an all-IP access network, consideration of ad hoc network extensions, enhancing Wireless LAN efficiency and compatibility with IP and, finally, terminal middleware and signalling for rapid adaptations to network QoS changes.