Third generation: an unified architecture to provide mobile multimedia

Since 1988, European Union-funded R&D projects have contributed significantly to the development of data capabilities in GSM/DCS1800 and DECT. In the context of the ACTS Program, launched in 1995 and extending until 1998, projects working rewards the development of the next generations of mobile communication concepts, systems and networks, have been looking into many of the technological and service engineering issues involved in the provision of data services, both outdoors and indoors (UMTS and MBS/W-LAN). To leverage existing investments in infrastructure, while at the same time preserving a maximum of flexibility to offer more opportunities and easier access to new entrants, a common architecture spanning the whole of GSM/UMTS/W-LAN/MBS is proposed and discussed in the context of the IP versus ATM debate.