"Hot spot" trial for DECT as a WLL technology

The DECT (Digital Enhanced Telecommunication System) is considered to be one of the prime candidates for the wireless local loop (WLL) and personal communication systems (PCS) as well. To test the DECT under real life conditions one of the new network operators, namely o.tel.o Kommunikationssysteme GmbH (former RWE Telliance GmbH), has set up a large field-trial system in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. A key issue is the spectrum needed for DECT as a WLL system, as the WLL system has to share the 20 MHz of DECT spectrum with all private systems, e.g. cordless phones and cordless private branch exchanges. A special "hot spot" test campaign within the Gelsenkirchen field-trial system is described. The public WLL and PCS systems were heavily loaded with traffic. In addition 35 private DECT telephones which generated a traffic load of approximately one Erlang each were set up in the hot spot area. The performance of the private and the public systems were measured. Test results show a very good performance of the private system and a good performance of the public system under this "hot spot" condition.