High Speed Wireless Internet Access: Combination of MPLS and BRAN HIPERLAN/2 technologies

This paper discusses the provision of High Speed Wireless Internet Access. It combines the MPLS technology for the core network and the next generation wireless BRAN HIPERLAN2 technology for the access part. The paper focuses on the interworking of MPLS within the HIPERLAN/2, through the design of a Convergence Layer. Two cases have been examined. In the first one, the AP is MPLS capable running a "light" version of the LDP protocol whereas in the second one MPLS is terminated at the edge router. The advantages and disadvantages of both approaches have been presented. Furthermore, the employment of MPLS to provide mobility management functionalities has been addressed. Two mobility management schemes have been examined. In the first one, MPLS is combined with Mobile IP to alleviate the problems of IP-in-IP encapsulation and triangular routing. In the second one, MPLS extensions have been proposed to provide mobility management services in an MPLS Administrative Domain.