Patent ID: 7519021

Claim:
A communication system comprising: a first base station operated by a first service provider and configured to exchange first information with first users over first wireless communication links; a mobile switching center configured to provide mobile telephone service; an Internet access system configured to provide Internet access service; a data system configured to provide a data service; and an Ethernet backhaul system configured to use an Ethernet format to exchange the first information between the first base station and the mobile switching center, the Internet access system, and the data system; wherein there is a second service provider that is different from the first service provider, that operates a service system, and that operates a second base station that is co-located with the first base station and that exchanges second information with second users over second wireless communication links; wherein the Ethernet backhaul system is configured to use the Ethernet format to exchange the second information between the second base station and the service system of the second service provider; wherein the Ethernet backhaul system includes Ethernet backhaul equipment that is co-located with the first base station and that is configured to exchange user traffic with a first user site, and wherein the Ethernet backhaul system is configured to exchange the user traffic with a second user site; and wherein the Ethernet backhaul equipment comprises a circuit bonding system configured to exchange the user traffic over virtually concatenated time division multiplexed circuits.