Broadband Radio Access for IP-based networks (BRAIN)-a key enabler for mobile Internet access

Second generation digital mobile radio systems have been very successful for voice communications and are now beginning to offer support for data services. Third generation mobile radio systems are currently being standardized worldwide to be initially deployed starting in 2001 providing support for multimedia applications with a flexible air interface and higher bandwidths. Wireless LAN technology is complementary to 3G systems and could be used to provide high bandwidth hot spot coverage, for example in railway stations and offices, for the emerging video and broadband services that will begin to emerge on fixed networks. The IST BRAIN project, which is partly funded by the European Commission, has been formed to solve the problems of providing seamless service for broadband users in these hot spots. This paper describes these problems in greater detail as well as outlining how the BRAIN project is tackling them.