|
Lucent has a 'BLAST'
|
 |
September 9, 1998: 9:51 a.m. ET
Bell Labs unit develops technology to boost certain wireless communication
|
NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Lucent Technologies Inc. said Wednesday its Bell Labs research unit has developed technology that could provide up to a 20-fold capacity boost for certain wireless communications links.
Lucent said the technology, called BLAST (Bell Labs Layered Space-Time) could allow "fixed" wireless technology to rival the capabilities of current wired networks. Lucent said the technology could significantly improve data transfer among desktop or notebook computers or among handheld computing devices.
The company also said BLAST could be used to provide phone service to remote and rural areas, where wireless networks would connect homes and businesses to copper-wired public telephone service providers.
Lucent said researchers have long believed that each wireless transmission needed to occupy a separate frequency, similar to the way FM radio stations occupy different frequencies within a given geographical area.
Lucent said BLAST researchers discovered it is possible for several transmissions to occupy the same frequency band.
The company said the technology, at this stage, isn't well suited for mobile wireless devices such as cellular phones because BLAST requires multiple antennas on both the transmitting and receiving ends.
"While there is still a great deal of applied research required before we apply this discovery, we are very excited about its potential implications for our future wireless systems," said Jim Brewington, president of Lucent's wireless networks group.
Lucent (LU) shares closed at 81-1/2 in Tuesday trading. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lucent
|
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
External sites are not endorsed by CNNmoney
|
|
|
|
 |
|
