Wireless is quickly becoming a household name in South Africa as more and more households and businesses opt for a wireless means of internet access. So, what is Wireless or Microwave Internet?
Wireless Internet And How It Works
Microwave internet is a line-of-sight wireless communication technology that provides wireless data transfer between two points using radio waves, removing the need for any fixed lines. Antennas direct narrow beams that are pointed directly to a receiving antenna or Tower.
Microwave internet begins with a fibre connection at a point of presence (PoP) tower. From the PoP infrastructure, internet access is then transmitted over the air via high frequency radio waves and is converted back into cable connected to a router at the end user.
High speed data transfer.
Wireless towers tend to transfer data of short distances, often distances lower than 20km. These small distances provide users with lower latency (lag).
Interference
Microwave internet has low chance of interference brought on by weather. Radio waves travel in a lateral direction and as such, does not travel at high altitudes like Satellite internet does. However, this lateral travel does make Wireless Microwave susceptible to geographic and urban interferences such as mountains, trees, and buildings. Therefore, it is crucial that a clear line-of-sight (LoS) is present.
Cost
Wireless internet connections relieve the need for physical cable resulting in lower installation costs. Monthly package fees tend to be lower than that of Fibre Optics and Satellite Internet.
Infrastructure – lack
Wireless Internet is a perfect substitute for users in areas where there is no Fibre Optics infrastructure. Wireless also has capability of reaching sites that are in smaller and remote areas where the probability of Fibre Optic infrastructure builds is low.
Fast and Easy Install
Installation turn around times are on average between one and two weeks. Once a direct line-of-sight has been found, an antenna is mounted to the end user premises which receives information from the Tower.
Shared bandwidth
Microwave internet users may come across issues with sharing bandwidth. This happens when many users within range of a single tower must share the bandwidth. This will cause a reduction in the speeds and usually is noticed during high peak times during the day.
Whether it is due to being in an area without Fibre or you are simply in need of a fast deployment solution, Microwave internet is providing a perfect option if you are looking for a reliable alternative.
Contact us at Pancom for more information.
