Abstract: A wide area paging broadcast channel for transmitting a page signal throughout a prescribed geographic area over a broadcast channel in response to a page request. At least one subscriber transceiver is located within the prescribe geographic area for receiving the page. In response to the received page signal, the subscriber transceiver transmits information back to the paging control center. However, the backhaul to the paging control center is accomplished by a plurality of base stations. Each base station forms a node in a mesh network of base stations which covers the prescribed geographic area. The subscriber transceiver may transmit information packets to nodes within the mesh network using a multiple access scheme with or without carrier sense access. The mesh network automatically selects which neighboring node to use for forwarding packets. Finally, a gateway device links the mesh network of base stations to the control center.