In the course of the accelerated contention of wireless technologies with wired technologies, broadband wireless service has become a reality, and wireless Internet is attainable. However, Quality of Service and cost remain as deficiencies of wireless systems. Despite the freedom of mobility, in the data arena, wireless technologies have enjoyed limited popularity to speak of. The true advantage of mobility in the context of broadband services is exemplified by the capability to deliver location specific services to the mobile user. Expanding the user’s range of sight through the fog, and around the corner, as well as increasing the user’s visibility to those around him, are among the objectives.

This feature topic issue will address the state-of-the-art of proposals and research activities toward the next generation broadband wireless networks and how these networks can provide global seamless roaming between heterogeneous wireless, satellite, and wired networks. Introduction of the interworking units (IWU) between networks of different standards (2G, 3G, and 4G) and between satellite and terrestrial wireless networks could be considered as the main issue in these networks. The next generation broadband wireless networks will provide new services to users such as Internet connectivity and navigation through satellite and terrestrial networks with perceived level of quality and at an affordable cost.

The feature topic issue looks at different technologies, different protocols, and different network architectures that will be supported in the next generation broadband wireless networks. The choice between IP-based and ATM-based technologies for wireless networks, optimum integration between satellite and terrestrial networks, and solutions for medium access protocols, routing, location management, handoff management, QoS management, error control, and interoperability are going to be explored for the next generation broadband wireless networks in this feature topic issue. The feature topic in particular aims to gather state-of-the-art of the activities in defining new services and applications for the next generation broadband wireless networks with emphasis on satellite-based and navigation services.

The articles for this Feature Topic issue will be solicited through an open call-for-papers and invitation to the experts in the field from industry and academia. Suggested topics for this FT issue include but not limited to: 
 

Standards developments for the next generation broadband wireless networks Wireless location systems, location-based services, applications and location sensitive Internet Transport and navigation services in next generation wireless networks Geocasting, nearcasting, multicasting for wireless networks  Terrestrial and satellite-based solutions to navigation and global positioning

Interoperability between broadband terrestrial and satellite networks Ad hoc networking  Global roaming between heterogeneous wireless networks QoS management and QoS provisioning in next generation wireless networks Next generation wireless network and ethnic and health implications Optimum choice of orbit height for integrated broadband satellite networks

Submission
 

Manuscript Due  August 15, 2001 Acceptance Notification  September 15, 2001 Final Manuscript Due October 10, 2001 Publication Date February 2002

Research articles are solicited for review. All submissions should adhere to the style of IEEE Communications Magazine. Guidelines for prospective authors can be found on-line at http://www.comsoc.org/livepubs/ci1/sub_guidelines.html. Please send PDF (preferred), Microsoft Word, or PostScript formatted papers to abbas@ee.usyd.edu.au no later than August 15, 2001. Accepted papers will also be included in Communications Interactive (CI), the online version of Communications Magazine.

Guest Editors
 

Abbas Jamalipour School of Electrical and Information Engineering University of Sydney Sydney NSW 2006, Australia Phone: +61 2 9351 2843 Fax: +61 2 9351 3847 Email: abbas@ee.usyd.edu.au

Sirin Tekinay Electrical and Computer Engineering New Jersey Institute of Technology University Heights, Newark, NJ 07102 Phone: +1 973 596 8464 Fax: +1 973 596 5680 Email: tekinay@adm.njit.edu

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