Multichannel multipoint distribution service
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Multichannel multipoint distribution service (MMDS), formerly known as broadband radio service (BRS) and also known as wireless cable, is a wireless telecommunications technology, used for general-purpose broadband networking or, more commonly, as an alternative method of cable television programming reception.
MMDS is used in Australia, Barbados, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Iceland, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama,[1] Portugal (including Madeira), Russia, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay and Vietnam. It is most commonly used in sparsely populated rural areas, where laying cables is not economically viable, although some companies have also offered MMDS services in urban areas, most notably in Ireland, until they were phased out in 2016.[2]
Technology
The BRS band uses
The MMDS band is separated into 33 (31 in USA) 6 MHz "channels", which may be licensed to cable companies offering service in different areas of a country. The concept was to allow entities to own several channels and
The newer BRS Band Plan makes changes to channel size and licensing in order to accommodate new WIMAX TDD fixed and mobile equipment, and reallocated frequencies between 2150 and 2162 MHz to the AWS band. These changes may not be compatible with the frequencies and channel sizes required for operating traditional MMDS or DOCSIS based equipment. MMDS has been used to provide internet access.[3]
MMDS and DOCSIS+
Local multipoint distribution service (LMDS) and BRS have adapted the DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) from the cable modem world. The version of DOCSIS modified for wireless broadband is known as DOCSIS+.
Data-transport security is accomplished under BRS by encrypting traffic flows between the
DOCSIS+ reduces theft-of-service vulnerabilities under BRS by requiring that the WMTS enforce encryption, and by employing an authenticated client/server key-management protocol in which the WMTS controls distribution of keying material to broadband wireless modems.
LMDS and BRS wireless modems utilize the DOCSIS+ key-management protocol to obtain authorization and traffic encryption material from a WMTS, and to support periodic reauthorization and key refresh. The key-management protocol uses
MMDS provided significantly greater range than LMDS.
MMDS may be obsoleted by the newer 802.16 WiMAX standard approved since 2004.
MMDS was sometimes expanded to multipoint microwave distribution system or multi-channel multi-point distribution system. All three phrases refer to the same technology.
Current status
In the United States, WATCH Communications (based in Lima, Ohio), Eagle Vision (based in Kirksville, MO), and several other companies offer MMDS-based wireless cable television, Internet access, and IP-based telephone services.
In certain areas, BRS is being deployed for use as wireless high-speed
AWI Networks (formerly Sky-View Technologies) operates a number of MMDS sites delivering high-speed Internet, VoIP telephone, and digital TV services in the Southwestern U.S.[5] In 2010, AWI began upgrading its infrastructure to DOCSIS 3.0 hardware, along with new microwave transmission equipment, allowing higher modulation rates like 256QAM. This has enabled download speeds in excess of 100 Mbit/s, over distances up to 35 miles (56 km) from the transmission site.
In the early days of MMDS, it was known as "wireless cable" and was used in a variety of investment scams that still surface today.
Several US telephone companies attempted television services via this system in the mid-1990s – the
In the Canadian provinces of
In Mexico, the 2.5 GHz band spectrum was reclaimed by the government in order to allow newer and better wireless data services.[9] Hence, MAS TV (formerly known as MVS Multivision) had to relinquish the concessions for TV broadcast and shut down its MMDS pay TV services in 2014 after 25 years of service.
In Ireland, since 1990,
In Iceland, since November 2006, Vodafone Iceland runs Digital Ísland (Digital Iceland) – the broadcasting system for 365 (previously operated by 365 Broadcast Media). Digital Ísland offers digital MMDS television services using DVB-T technology alongside a few analogue channels. The MMDS frequency range extends from 2500 to 2684 MHz for a total of 23 (21 of which are considered usable for broadcasting in Iceland) 8 MHz channels. Analogue MMDS broadcasting began in 1993, moving to digital in 2004.
In Brazil, the shutdown of the MMDS technology started in 2012 to release the frequency for the 2500–2600 MHz LTE-UTRAN band, which would make the service infeasible. The national shutdown was planned to be finished at the end of 2012; as of 2013, the service had already been shut down in most cities.[12]
In the Dominican Republic, Wind Telecom started operations using MMDS technology in 2008; at that time and ever since it became a pioneer taking advantage of such implementations. The company uses the DVB standard for its digital television transmissions.
See also
References
- ^ "Cable-Onda-SA-2016.pdf" (PDF). 2000-10-11.
- Irish Times, November 24, 2016.
- .
- ^ CommSPEED.
- ^ AWI Networks.
- ^ Wireless Cable Scams.
- ^ Sonny Bloch Radio Show Host Charged with Fraud.
- ^ "About Us | SaskTel Launches High Speed Fusion Internet Service to Remaining 43 WBBI Towers | SaskTel". www.sasktel.com.
- ^ "Acordaron SCT y concesionarios de Banda de 2.5 GHZ reintegrar al estado 130 MHZ". Portal SCT (in Spanish).
- YouTube.
- ^ ComReg Ireland. Final Decision on proposal to renew the existing MMDS licences from 19 April 2014 to 18 April 2016.
- ^ "Telefônica/Vivo começa desocupação da faixa de MMDS em São Paulo, Curitiba e Porto Alegre" (in Portuguese). 27 March 2013.