Low-cost radio access network enabling local switching

摘要

An access-point node to a first network cell of a radio access network, to an access-center node and to a radio access network enable local service providers in rural areas to provide mobile telecommunication at low cost for end users. The access-point node of the invention is configured to establish, maintain, and release a local user-data radio channel, which consists of a first local channel section having as endpoints a first terminal device located in the network cell and the access-point node, and of a second local channel section having as endpoints the access-point node and a second terminal device located in the network cell. The access-point node is configured to exchange packetized user data and control data with an assigned superordinate access-center node for establishing, maintaining and releasing communication between the first terminal device and a third terminal device located outside the network cell. Link cost between the radio access network and the core network may be strongly reduced.