Communication system and method for addressing multiple capacity wireless trunk

A communication system (101) having a wireless trunk for connecting multiple phone stations (102) over wireless communication links to a cellular network. The communication system (101) comprises a central telephone switch (105) such as a private branch exchange or key system, connected through one or more trunk lines to a wireless access communication unit (106), and connected through a landline to a public switched telephone network (125). The wireless access communication unit (106) preferably comprises a separate subscriber interface (104) for each trunk line from the central telephone switch (105). The wireless access communication unit (106) collects data from each of the subscriber interfaces, formats the data into a format compatible with an over-the-air protocol, and transmits the information over one or more wireless channels (108) to a cellular base station (109). The wireless access communication unit (106) thereby provides the central telephone switch (105) with one or more channels to and from the cellular network.