Apparatus comprising a Radio Frequency, RF, port (18, 50) coupled to a cell controller, the RF port being configured to operate functions of a wireless communication standard protocol in a wireless communication system, said cell controller being adapted to perform a first portion of media access control, MAC, functions defined by the wireless communication standard protocol, wherein the RF port (18, 50) is included in a wireless access device, the RF port (18, 50) comprising: an RF module (42, 52) for receiving an RF data signal; and a processor (38, 53, 64) adapted to receive the RF data signal from the RF module and further being adapted to provide a formatted data signal to a wired network interface (46, 58), wherein the processor (38, 53, 64) is adapted to perform a second portion of other media access control, MAC, functions defined by the wireless communication standard protocol, the second portion of other MAC functions requiring a lower level of processing resources in terms of processor capacity and storage capacity requirements than the first portion of MAC functions, and further wherein: (a) the first portion of MAC functions performed by the cell controller includes at least one MAC function defined by the wireless communication standard protocol, and (b) the cell controller adapted to perform the first portion of MAC functions and the RF port (18, 50) are connected via a switching hub interposed between the cell controller and the RF port (18, 50), the switching hub being adapted to provide message switching among a wired network connected to the wired network interface (46, 58), the RF port and the cell controller. an RF module (42, 52) for receiving an RF data signal; and a processor (38, 53, 64) adapted to receive the RF data signal from the RF module and further being adapted to provide a formatted data signal to a wired network interface (46, 58), wherein the processor (38, 53, 64) is adapted to perform a second portion of other media access control, MAC, functions defined by the wireless communication standard protocol, the second portion of other MAC functions requiring a lower level of processing resources in terms of processor capacity and storage capacity requirements than the first portion of MAC functions, and further wherein: (a) the first portion of MAC functions performed by the cell controller includes at least one MAC function defined by the wireless communication standard protocol, and (b) the cell controller adapted to perform the first portion of MAC functions and the RF port (18, 50) are connected via a switching hub interposed between the cell controller and the RF port (18, 50), the switching hub being adapted to provide message switching among a wired network connected to the wired network interface (46, 58), the RF port and the cell controller. (a) the first portion of MAC functions performed by the cell controller includes at least one MAC function defined by the wireless communication standard protocol, and (b) the cell controller adapted to perform the first portion of MAC functions and the RF port (18, 50) are connected via a switching hub interposed between the cell controller and the RF port (18, 50), the switching hub being adapted to provide message switching among a wired network connected to the wired network interface (46, 58), the RF port and the cell controller.