Usage Scenarios and Application Requirements for Wireless Mesh Networks

Reduction of network deployment and operation costs and integration of wireless access networks with fixed broadband access technologies is a key enabler for small and medium scale enterprises to enter the rapidly growing mobile broadband access market, and introduce innovative services that require pervasive broadband access. Mesh Networks represent an emerging wireless networking technology that promises wider coverage than traditional wireless LANs and higher data rates combined with lower deployment costs than 3G mobile networks. In order to turn the outstanding business potential represented by mesh networking into real profit, one needs to solve a number of technical problems related to the design and operation of mesh networks. Starting point to this direction is to define the system requirements both in terms of available services and applications, and in terms of their usage by end users.