The present invention provides a wireless backbone for use with a public switched telephone network (PSTN). In one embodiment, the wireless backbone includes a central office switch coupled to the PSTN and configured to process a plurality of calls associated with the PSTN. Additionally, the wireless backbone also includes a wireless transmission unit coupled to the central office switch and configured to cooperate with another wireless transmission unit to yield a wireless trunk for communicating the plurality of calls to another central office switch.