The invention relates to a method and system for multiple access wireless communication system using transmitter-receivers supported by remote, software-configured, signal processing devices. An illustrative embodiment of the downlink transmission system includes a method and for receiving signals from the internet, PSTN, or other networks and assigning the signal to one of several shared, software configured, signal processing devices that processes these signals, digitizes them, and compresses them before forwarding them to a thin client transmitter. This thin client transmitter system decompresses the received signals, and transmits it to remote users using the appropriate wireless protocol. The embodiment also comprises an uplink transmission system that includes: an antenna for receiving analog RF signals transmitted by remote users; an analog to digital convertor that converts these analog signals into digital signals; a method for compressing the digital signals; and a method and for transporting the compressed digital signals to a remotely located, software configured, shared signal processing system. The shared remote signal processing system decompresses these signals; assigns the decompressed signal to one of several shared, software configurable signal processing devices that processes these signals and transmits the signals onwards via the internet, switched telephone, or other networks.