Low cost broadband access for everyone


The EU-funded Integrated Project "Broadband services for everyone over fixed wireless access networks (BROADWAN)" started on 1 December 2003. The main goals are:
  • Development of an economical, realistic network architecture for the provision of true broad­band services for all citizens in Europe.
  • Positioning of European industry in the lead for next generation broadband fixed wireless access (BFWA) solutions.
  • Motivating advanced utilisation of broadband services at all levels of the society by per­forming demonstrations and trials in some rural areas.
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    The utilisation of broadband networks is becoming increasingly more important for the development of European society. Broadband services help and may even be absolutely necessary, to main­tain and increase the everyday quality of life irrespective of living area. Business, organi­sations, education, health care, culture, and community authorities take more and more ad­vantage of broadband networks. The realisation of a European-wide broadband network is bene­ficial to the people as well as business and in­dustry without dam­aging the environ­ment.
     
    Broadband technology helps European busi­ness and society in general, and radio-based technology in particular has the poten­tial of improving third world societies dra­matically.
     
    BROADWAN, being an Integrated Project, approaches a wide range of tasks and the main goal may be reformulated to get things moving in the broadband access area with an em­phasis on wireless in hybrid solutions. Besides having a wide-ranging approach BROADWAN also makes in-depth investigations and developments such as inno­vative heterogeneous low-cost architecture to reach everyone, automatic software tools of cost-optimised hybrid network planning and next generation wireless access at both high (42 GHz) and low frequen­cies (5 GHz). BROADWAN launches several demonstrations and trials, workshops, and introduces a new wireless forum for providing public information, training of users and builders or suppliers, as well as promoting broadband access in general.
     
    For regularly updated information and a full list of partners, please visit the web-site broadwan.org.
     
    Contact person: Terje Tjelta, Telenor R&D (terje.tjelta@telenor.com)