News in View: Pundits fail to bond with wireless networks

With the auction for the UK's broadband radio spectrum due to begin this month, many operators are promoting the wireless local loop as a viable alternative to cabled solutions.

But problems with interference and dead spots on wireless LANs will always be an issue, as is discussed in this week's News in View programme.

Bruce Sinclair, president and CEO of Waverider, is an enthusiastic backer of the technology. He said: "There's no reason why a system can't be engineered to be just as secure and just as robust an alternative to wireline today."

Kevin Flood, chief technology officer at Tolly Research, was more cautious, admitting that interference caused by the weather, electricity surges or physical impediments can be a problem. Nonetheless, he remains positive about the technology.

Flood said: "I think the data rates that can be supported now and the quality with which the encoding technology is being applied to wireless links are such that a number of the issues which were critical technological and reliability concerns in the recent past are no longer the case."

But Christopher Cane, business unit manager for WRQ, said: "Wireless networks are not as reliable as a wired network. We all grew up using wired networks, we expect a connection every time, and we never expect that connection to drop."

He added: "The trouble is that wireless networks are not nearly as robust. Dead spots can exist on wireless LANs, there are places where there's interference, maybe an elevator or a wall that blocks connection, and when that happens users will drop applications."

But wireless is widely regarded as a suitable solution in buildings where installing cable would be expensive and problematic, and is ideal for some workers who need true mobility, such as hospital staff.

For a full discussion of the issues, click on the video icon above.

Don't forget to tune into silicon.com's in-depth report: Broadband: Beyond ADSL (http://www.silicon.com/broadband ), which was launched earlier today. It explores the next-generation technologies available and their impact on business. Divided into three sections, Technology, Convergence and Business Implications, the report answers all your broadband questions and will help you make the right decisions.