Wireless data networks: reaching the extra mile

Development of wireless networks for metropolitan and wide areas has been lagging behind the rapid evolution of wired networking technology. A combination of current and emerging technologies, however, could serve to maximize the transmission data rates available and help use the limited radio spectrum appropriately. We will need to accelerate the development and implementation of a number of key technologies-such as spread spectrum multihopping-especially because wire users have grown accustomed to near instantaneous response and the background noise level for wireless communications is already high.