Taking a coherent and logical approach, this book describes the potential use of co-ordinated multipoint systems supported by radio over fiber. It covers an impressive breadth of topics, ranging from components, subsystem and system architecture, to network management and business perspectives. The authors show the importance of radio over fiber in eliminating or mitigating against the current, perceived barriers to the use of co-ordinated multipoint, and the drivers for standardisation activities in future mobile/wireless systems over the next few years. The book brings together the system concept for centralized processing, including what is required for co-existence with legacy wireless systems, the algorithms that can be used for improving wireless bandwidth utilization at physical and MAC layers and the radio over fiber network and link design necessary to support the wireless system. Other important research is also covered as the authors look at compensating for radio over fiber impairments and providing simple network management functions. A study of service provision and the business case for such a future wireless system is also fully considered. This book comes at an important time for future wireless systems with standardization of fourth generation wireless systems still ongoing. The content enables readers to make key decisions about future standardisation and their own research work. The business analysis also makes the book useful to those involved in deciding the future directions of telecoms organisations. This information will be core to their decision-making as it provides technical knowledge of the state-of-the-art but also system level assessments of what is possible in a business environment.
