A scaleable, broadband wireless system for providing radio access to a metropolitan
area. The metropolitan area is sub-divided into overlapping cellular areas each
having a base station for communication with network interface units at customer
sites within each cell. ATM Radio Interface Cards (ARICs), both time division multiple
access (TDMA) and frequency division multiple access (FDMA), in each base station
implement protocols for bi-directionally linking the NIUs with the ATM backbone.
FDMA ARICs provide point to point radio access between base stations over intercell
links. The capacity of the system can be scaled by adding the appropriate ARICs
as required to meet demand.
