Hedy Lamarr, a Hollywood actress in 1930s and ‘40s, probably never envisioned that her patented “secret communication system” based on frequency-hopping technology would be used extensively in WiLL (Wireless in Local Loop) almost 60 years after her patent claim.
In the 1950s, Lamarr gave the patent rights freely to the U.S. military to develop advanced military communications systems for military purposes using “spread spectrum” techniques have been used to develop civilian applications in WiLL and cellular phones. By the time the Navy and later the cellular phone industry used the technology, the original patent had expired and Lamarr and co-inventor George Antheil received no royalties.

In the telecom revolution of the 1990s, these techniques have been used to develop civilian applications in WiLL and cellular phones.

The Last Mile
WiLL today has wider meaning and is used with multiple technologies. The local loop, or last mile, is the connection between the telephone exchange and the user. Traditionally this has been made through a twisted pair of copper wire. Because laying cable for the last mile is a bottleneck, the customers’ premises instead are connected to the exchange wirelessly. This enables users to call at local rates within a limited range while they are mobile. In India, WiLL is referred to as the poor man’s technology. Never before has there been such a longing for, and scramble to provide, basic telecom service to people without phones. Companies like Reliance, BhartiTele, Tata Teleservices, etc., all see a huge business opportunity the rural areas. That’s the good news.

If you have more query about magazine please send mail to

May 12	April 12	March 12	Feb 12