FWA (fixed wireless access)

Also known as wireless local loop. (Cingular)

Wireless local loop (WLL), also called radio in the loop (RITL) or fixed-radio access (FRA) or fixed-wireless access (FWA), is the use of a wireless communications link as the "last mile" connection for delivering plain old telephone service (POTS) and broadband Internet to telecommunications customers.

Nowdays there are various types of WLL systems.

These are available in Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), IS136 Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) as well as analog access technologies such as Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), for which there will be independent standards defining every aspect of modulation, protocols, error handling,etc.

Fixed Wireless Terminals or FWT units differ from conventional mobile terminal units operating within cellular networks -such as GSM- in that a fixed wireless terminal or deskphone will be limited to an almost permanent location with almost no roaming or find-me anywhere facilities.

WLL and FWTs are generic terms for a radio based telecommunications technologies and the respective devices which can be implemented using a number of different cellular systems technologies.

Indeed, confusingly, some WLL providers do so use fixed GSM equipment as well as there are others that employ any of the other wireless access methods mentioned above.

WLL Standards

* Mobile:
o CDMA (USA).
o TDMA (USA).
o GSM (Europe).
o UMTS 3th Generation (World).
o Personal Handy-phone System (PHS in Japan, PAS/Xiaolingtong in China)
* Fixed or local area network:
o DECT, for local loop (Europe)
o corDECT (India)
o LMDS

(Wikipedia)

Fault-tolerant

Fault-tolerant

A method of making a network system or a computer resistant to software errors, hardware problems or power failures. (Cingular)

Fault tolerant design refers to a method for designing a system so it will continue to operate, possibly at a reduced level (also known as "graceful degradation"), rather than failing completely, when some part of the system fails. The term is most commonly used to describe computer-based systems designed to continue more or less fully operational with, perhaps, a reduction in throughput or response time in the event of some partial failure. That is, the system as a whole is not stopped due to problems either in the hardware or the software. An example in another field is a motor vehicle designed so it will continue to be drivable if one of the tires is punctured. (Wikipedia)