High-Speed Downlink Access in 3G Systems: A Portent for the Evolution of 4G Systems?

  • Authors:

  • Francis J. Mullany

  • Affiliations:

  • Global Wireless Systems Research, Bell Labs, Lucent Technologies, Optimus, Windmill Hill Business Park, Swindon SN5 6PP, United Kingdom E-mail: mullany@lucent.com

  • Venue:
  • Wireless Personal Communications: An International Journal
  • Year:
  • 2001

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Abstract

Due to the need of operators to protect the high levels of investment inthird generation (3G) wireless systems, it seems likely that the path tofourth generation (4G) wireless systems will be evolutionary rather thanrevolutionary. Currently there are a number of proposals beforestandardisation bodies such as 3GPP and 3GPP2 for extending the relevant3G systems to handle asymmetrical, packet-orientatedservices with very high downlink capacities. These proposals, whichinclude HDR and 1XTREME, may pave the way towards 4G systems.This paper outlines some of the salient features of HDR and 1XTREME:adaptive modulation, advanced hybrid ARQ, new fast access controlschemes, etc. On the basis of the trends inherent in theseproposals, some possible directions for the development of 4G systems arediscussed.