In recent years, cellular voice networks have transformed into powerful packet-switched
access networks for both voice communication and Internet access. Evolving Universal
Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) networks and first Long Term Evolution
(LTE) installations now deliver bandwidths of several megabits per second to individual
users, and mobile access to the Internet from handheld devices and notebooks is no
longer perceived as slower than a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or cable connection.
Bandwidth and capacity demands, however, keep rising because of the increasing number
of people using the networks and because of bandwidth-intensive applications such as
video streaming. Thus, network manufacturers and network operators need to find ways
to continuously increase the capacity and performance of their cellular networks while
reducing the cost.
