[ This one slips into the window of the thread closure, but more on
the wired vs. wireless topic will be dependent on actual new
information of value being imparted in submitted messages.
-- Lauren Weinstein
NNSquad Moderator ]
I am currently engaged in a study (along with others, as Dave Farber is
aware) of wireless access network configuration problems, in particular
on AT&T Wireless 3G, but the same sort of problems have been observed on
other 3G access networks.
The performance issues have nothing to do with the radio link, medium
access control, etc. The problem is in the routers and switches in the
portion of the network upstream from the cell sites. Since the study
is not complete, I am not in a position to reveal the data, or provide
final conclusions.
However, I can assure you all that debating the behavior of carrier data
wireless (WiMAX, HSPA, or CDMA) networks in ignorance of detailed
configuration information or measurements is not going to shed light on
"wireless" issues as different from "wired" - the elements of the
network with problems are all "wired".
The class of problems being analyzed are essentially identical to
problems that have been seen in wired access networks (such as the
DOCSIS problems observed in Comcast's network) where the layer 2 service
is configured to create persistent congested states in underprovisioned
upstream layer 2 elements.
I hope that the operators who have such configuration issues will be
able to improve their network architecture with the proper fixes.
