PHS MoU Document
C-GN0.00-03-TS
Title: Personal Handy-phone System - Fixed Wireless Access(PHS-FWA) : General Description
Version: 03
Date: June 7, 2000
PHS MoU Classification: Unrestricted
List of contents:
1. Introduction
2. PHS-FWA System
2.1 Basic Functional Architecture of FWA
2.2 WIF1 Interfaces
2.3 WIF2 Interfaces
2.4 WIF3 Interfaces
3. Service Aspects
4. System Aspects

Number of pages: 5

PHS MoU Group
c/o Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB)
14F, Nittochi Bldg., 4-1, Kasumigaseki, 1-choume, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0013, Japan
TEL +81-3-5510-8599 FAX +81-3-3592-1103© PHS MoU Group 2000

PHS MoU Document
C-GN0.00-03-TS
Version010203

History of Revised Versions
DateOutline
Dec. 17, 1996 Established

July 11, 1997

Clause 1 is changed and Sub-clause 4.2 isdeleted.

June 7, 2000

Changed all WLL into FWA.
Clause 2,3 and 4 changed.

1. Introduction
PHS-FWA System (Personal Handy-phone System based Fixed Wireless Access) is designed for plain
ordinary telephone or ISDN wireless access facilities, which utilizes PHS (Personal Handy-PhoneSystem) basic technologies standardized in Japan and eliminate some mobile functions. Since PHSadopts 32kbps TDMA scheme, PHS-FWA is also expected for high speed data. PHS-FWA isapplicable to not only low traffic rural area but also comparatively high traffic suburban area because
a cell size can be adapted to ground design from hundreds meters to five thousands meters. Therefore
PHS-FWA system provides a way to construct telecommunication infrastructure at low cost and in ashort time for developed countries as well as developing countries.
While this PHS-FWA System remains the mobility function which is not necessary for fixed
telephone system, the PHS-FWA grants telephone terminals to move in a certain area within a cell, so
it is also called limited mobile telephone system.
(NOTE)The primary purpose of this system is to provide fixed subscriber services by wireless accessfacilities, instead of copper cable. For this reason, this system is classified into FWA system
according to ITU-R Recommendation F.1399 and is called 'PHS-FWA'. In the basic usage the usernetwork interface (UNI) is wired as in the ordinary wired services, but it is also possible that the UNI
is wireless using wireless subscriber terminals similar to mobile PHS terminals. In the latter case, thesystem has the limited mobile capability.
2. PHS-FWA (PHS Fixed Wireless Access) system
A PHS-FWA network model is shown in Figure 2-1/C-GN0.00. The PHS-FWA System model
consists of FWA Access Controllers (WACs), FWA Cell Stations (WCSs), FWA Personal Stations(WPSs), and FWA Subscriber Units (WSUs).
There are two types in PHS-FWA system. The definitions are as follows. In Type 1 system, public
PHS interface is fully applied. In Type 2 system, the communication channels are set up by using
public PHS interface, and those channels are used to construct the whole network. Control
information of layer 2 and layer 3 is transparently conveyed through these channels. ISDN and leased
line services are realized by Type 2 system.
WACs are located between the Service Node (SN) and the WCSs, and function to implement
concentration, authentication and so on. The interface between WAC and WCS which are used
several kinds of cables or radio are outside MoU scope at the moment. The air interface between
WCSs and WSUs is standardized as PHS air interface in RCR STD-28 of the Association of Radio
Industries and Businesses (ARIB). WCSs are usually installed outdoors in locations such as at the toppoles. One WCS can cover an area within a cell having a radius of approximately 5 km. WSUs areinstalled in customers’ house and are connected to telephone terminals or network terminations andthe antennas are set at its roof or wall. WPSs are PHS terminals which are equivalent to telephone
terminals with WSU functions.

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1

WIF2
WIF 1
WSUTE

WIF 1
WCSTE

NTWAC

SNWSU
WIF3
WRS

WIF2

WIF2
WPS

TE :
Terminal Equipment
WSU : FWA Subscriber Unit
WPS : FWA Personal Station
WRS : FWA Repeater Station
WCS : FWA Cell Station
WAC : FWA Access Controller
SN:Service NodeNetwork Termination
NT:Figure 2-1/C-GN0.00 PHS-FWA Network Model

2.1 Basic Functional Architecture of FWA
Figure 2-1/C-GN0.00 also shows a PHS-FWA interface reference points. Definitions of theseinterfaces are as follows.
(i)

WIF1 which is an interface between TE (Terminal Equipment) and WSU (FWA Subscriber
Unit), or NT and WSU is recommended in C-IF1.00 series.

(ii)

WIF2 which is a radio interface between WSU (FWA Subscriber Unit) or WPS (FWA PersonalStation) and WCS (FWA Cell Station) and so on is recommended in C-IF2.00 series.

(iii)

WIF3 which is the interface between WAC (FWA Access Controller) and SN (Service Node)is recommended in C-IF3.00 series.

2.2 WIF1 Interface
PSTN: The interface between TE and WSU is two-wire analogue interface described in C-IF1.01.
ISDN: The interface between TE and WSU is ITU-T Recommendation I.430 interface, and between
NT and WSU is ITU-T Recommendation G.961 interface. Layer 2 and layer 3 interfaces are ITU-TRecommendation Q.921 and Q.931 (and other ITU-T Recommendations referenced by the networkoperator), respectively.
Their interfaces are described in C-IF1.02.
Leased line interface depends on operator implementation.

2C-GN0.00-03-TS

2.3 WIF2 Interface
The interface between WSU or WPS and WCS and so on which is a radio interface based on RCR
STD-28 is described in C-IF2.01.
2.4 WIF3 Interface
The interfaces between WAC and SN which are two-wire analogue interface, ITU-T
Recommendation G964:V5.1 interface, ITU-T Recommendation G965:V5.2 interface, Bellcore GR303, or ITU-T Recommendation G.961, Q.921, Q.931 (and other ITU-T Recommendations referenced
by the network operator) interfaces are described in C-IF3.01, C-IF3.02, C-IF3.03, C-IF3.04, and CIF3.05 respectively.
Leased line interface except V5.1 and V5.2 interface depends on operator implementation.
3. Service Aspects
PHS-FWA System provides various services, such as ordinary telephone service, pay-phone service,
PBX service, high speed data service, ISDN service, limited mobilephone service and so on.
The detail specification of the PHS-FWA services is described in C-SV1.00.
4. System Aspects
PHS-FWA System is a new wireless access system for ordinary telephone network, ISDN, orsometimes for limited mobilephone network.
The detail of the PHS-FWA system configuration is described in C-NW1.00.

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Annex A Glossary/Abbreviation
ADPCM : Adaptive differential pulse code modulation
A speech coding method which calculates the difference between two consecutive speech samples instandard PCM coded telecom voice signals.
ARIB : Association of Radio Industries and Businesses
An institute which promotes the development of new radio systems in the communication andbroadcasting field and the national standardization of the technology level.
Cell :a radio zone covered by a WCS
DQPSK
Differential Quadrature Phase Shift Keying
DTMF
Dual Tone Multi Frequency used for dialing number signal
G.964
ITU-T recommendation for V interface at the digital Local Exchange (LE) / V5.1 interface (based on
2048kbit/s) for the support of Access Network (AN)G.965
ITU-T recommendation for V interface at the digital Local Exchange (LE) / V5.2 interface (based on
2048kbit/s) for the support of Access Network (AN)GR-303
GR-303 which is a defacto standard published by Bellcore is for Integrated Digital Loop Carrier
System Generic Requirements, Objectives and Interface.
Group Control
A control scheme that multiple WCSs commonly share a single control channel.
HandoverHandover is an action of switching a call in progress from one cell to another or between radio
channels in a same area. It is used to allow established calls to continue when PS moves from one cellto another.
ISDN
Integrated Services Digital Network
ITU-TInternational Telecommunication Union -Telecommunication Standardization SectorNT:Network Termination
NT, which terminate network and connect to terminal equipment (TE)

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PBX : Private Branch Exchange
PBX is a one of Terminal Equipment.
PHS : Personal Handyphone System
Second generation digital cordless telephone system. PHS (RCR STD-28) was standardized by RCR.
PHS-FWA : Personal Handyphone System based Wireless Local Loop
PHS-FWA is designed for plain ordinary telephone or ISDN wireless access network using PHS airinterface (RCR STD-28) technology.
PSTN : Public Switched Telephone Network
Public Switched Telephone Network. It provides analogue-channel to user.
RCR : Research and Development Center for Radio System.
PHS (RCR STD-28) was standardized here. It is called Association of Radio Industries andBusinesses (ARIB) now.
SN : Service NodeSN which is same as Local Exchange, or telephone network, in this paper terminates subscriber line
signal and network signal.
TE : Terminal Equipment
TE, which is same as Customer Premises Equipment, is a user terminal such as a telephone terminal,
FAX/DATA modem and Terminal Adapter (TA).
V5
V5 is ITU-T Recommendation standards for the connection of an Access Network (AN) using the2048kbit/s ports.
WAC : FWA Access Controller
An equipment that has SN interface and WCS interface, controls call connection, performs location
registration, authentication, and so on.
WCS : FWA Cell Station
WCS, which is a radio communication equipment, communicates with WPS or WSU using PHS
based air interface (RCR STD-28).
WPS : FWA Personal Station
WPS, which is a mobile subscriber communication terminal, communicates with WCS using PHS
based air interface (RCR STD-28).

WSU : FWA Subscriber Unit
WSU, which has two-wire/four-wire analogue interface or G.961 interface for TE, converts signals
between TE and WCS.

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