System and method for providing wireless internet services

A wireless head end comprising:

• an engine for transmitting signals between multiple network service providers and a distribution node, the distribution node for being in wireless communication with subscribers;
• a first interface coupled to the engine for sending signals to and receiving signals from the distribution node, and
• a second interface coupled to the engine for sending signals to and receiving signals from the multiple network service providers, the multiple network service providers being coupled to at least one computer network, wherein the second interface includes an ATM interface, and wherein the engine:
• receives a signal from a network service provider;
• determines if the network service provider signal is for a known subscriber;
• and
• if the signal is not for a known subscriber, broadcasting the network service provider signal to the distribution node.

A computer-readable medium storing instructions for causing a wireless head end to perform the steps of:

• maintaining both SIP and ARP tables in a memory device;
• receiving a signal having a unique network identifier from a distribution node;
• determining if the signal is from a valid subscriber by looking up the unique identifier in the SIP and ARP tables;
• if the signal is from a valid subscriber, determining which Network Service Provider the received signal is addressed to;
• and
• forwarding the signal to the appropriate Network Service Provider.

A wireless head end, comprising:

• maintaining means for maintaining SIP and ARP tables in a memory device;
• first receiving means for receiving a signal having a unique network identifier from a distribution node;
• first determining means for determining if the signal is from a valid subscriber by looking up the unique identifier in the SIP and ARP tables;
• second determining means for determining which Network Service Provider the received signal is addressed to if the signal is from a valid subscriber;
• and
• forwarding means for forwarding the signal to the appropriate Network Service Provider.

A method performed by a head end, the method comprising:

• maintaining both SIP and ARP tables in a memory device;
• receiving a signal having a unique network identifier from a distribution node;
• determining if the signal is from a valid subscriber by looking up the unique identifier in the SIP and ARP tables;
• if the signal is from a valid subscriber, determining which Network Service Provider the received signal is addressed to;
• and
• forwarding the signal to the appropriate Network Service Provider.