 0.10 Mbyte/user per month to about 35 Mbyte/user per month by 2005. Real-time (RT) services with tighter delay requirements will augment gradually, as will non-real-time services with low packet loss demands. Thus, a 3G-network transmission will require higher flexibility to increase capacity, incorporate new sites dynamically, and support a broader set of protocols (e.g. ATM, IP, etc.). In addition, QoS will be an inherent requirement, while demanding higher reli- ability and security. On the other hand, overall transmission operational costs would still need to diminish, despite the increase in functionality. As a result, the challenging tasks to build a 3G transmission network include: access capacity increase to cope with GMS (+GPRS), EDGE18, and WCDMA sites, increase CN capacity and efficiency from the start of 3G. This will keep the transmission network as a strategic asset, SO it can evolve gradually and be optimized for packet traffic all the way from the core. 7.10.1.1 Present State and Future Evolution Today microwave has become the preferred choice for BS network access. It is cost- efficient and we can deploy it rapidly with significant savings through integrated solu- tions. In the CN transmission side, i.e. connections from BSCs to MSCS sites, 2 Mbps leased lines, or protected microwave at 16 X 2 Mbps or own or leased SDH transport common. In the future sites will evolve to multi-band multi-standard sites, e.g. plain GSM to GSM-EDGE and/or WCDMA. Macrocell transmission capacity will thus increase from typical 2 Mbps to 10 Mbps as illustrated in Figure 7.13. The level of increase clearly justifies new ways to implement a transmission network to maximize efficiency and to 18 Although it may not apply to all networks, specially if some choose a direct path to UMTS (e.g. WCDMA). The UMTS Network and Radio Access Technology add flexibility. High capacity SDH (STM4-STM16), e.g. can become the core transport network while complementing the access network with STM1 to enter the backbone, and using n x2M fo