Broadband Wireless Access

Introduction

Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) technologies provide high-speed communication access by wireless means to consumer and business markets.

License exempt Wireless Access Systems including Radio Local Area Networks (WAS/RLANs) represent the primary BWA technologies used for wireless internet access. With billions of devices already in operation, and the rapid growth expected to continue for the foreseeable future, and the demand for greater throughput to support Gigabit internet access and advanced wireless applications, the current spectrum allocations are insufficient to maintain an acceptable level of performance users are accustomed to.

Our Role & Activities

Broadband Wireless Access includes a large variety of radio technologies and corresponding services therefore several ETSI technical committees are active in this area:

Broadband Radio Access Networks (BRAN)

ETSI technical committee BRAN prepares and maintains Harmonised Standards for RLANs operating in the 5 GHz frequency band (EN 301 893), for fixed WAS operating in the 5,8 GHz band (EN 302 502), for White Space Devices (WSD) operating in the TV broadcast band (EN 301 598), for Multiple-Gigabit/s systems operating in the 60 GHz frequency band (EN 302 567), for WAS/RLANs operating in the band 5 945 MHz to 6 425 MHz (EN 303 687), for Wideband Data Transmission Systems (WDTS) for fixed network radio equipment operating in the 57 GHz to 71 GHz band (EN 303 722) and for WDTS for Mobile and Fixed Radio Equipment operating in the 57 GHz to 71 GHz band (EN 303 753). If new frequency bands are allocated to BWA communications, then ETSI TC BRAN will most probably work on corresponding Harmonised Standards.

EMC & Radio Spectrum Matters (ERM)

ETSI technical committee ERM with its Technical Group ERM TG11 is responsible for the Harmonised Standard covering 'Wideband Data Links operating in the 2,4 GHz band', i.e. Radio LANs or Wireless LANs (EN 300 328). This standard is very widely used for demonstrating the conformity of Wi-Fi^TM, and similar licence-exempt data communications equipment with Directive 2014/53/EU. ERM TGMARINE is responsible for the Harmonised Standard covering Broadband communication radio link for ships and off-shore installations in the band 5 852 MHz - 5 872 MHz and 5 880 MHz - 5 900 MHz.

Access, Terminals, Transmission & Multiplexing (ATTM)

The Working Group TM 4 of ETSI technical committee ATTM is responsible for specifications for point-to-point and multipoint radio systems, in the fixed service used in core and access networks (including mobile service backhauling); all equipment aspects including antenna parameters are covered. These specifications address many frequency bands within the range 1,3 GHz to 174,8 GHz for point-to-point radio systems (EN 302 217-2) and 3,5 GHz, 10 GHz, 26 GHz, 28 GHz, 32 GHz and 42 GHz for multipoint radio systems (EN 302 326‑2). Consideration for the introduction of other bands, newly allocated or made available to fixed service use, is routinely carried on, as appropriate.

Other Technical Committees

The following ETSI technical committees also work on specifications that can be used for Broadband Wireless Access:

• Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT^TM)
• Rail Telecommunications (RT)
• Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP^TM)

Standards

A full list of related standards in the public domain is accessible via the ETSI standards search.