Wireless backhaul, also known as fixed wireless, technology has become a standard means of creating a microwave link between locations (whether building to building, field locations to a network presence, connecting network / fiber segments, etc.) and/or for connecting devices (like IP video cameras, SCADA devices, client devices, phones, two-way radio / pagers, etc.) to networks.
Wireless backhaul can be in point to point wireless, point to multipoint wireless, or wireless mesh configurations. Wireless bridges can be licensed microwave links or unlicensed wireless Ethernet bridges. A licensed microwave link or wireless Ethernet bridge can provide throughput as low as 10Mbps up to GigE (with gigabit wireless).
Wireless backhaul provides many advantages over traditional hard wire connections:
- More Bandwidth than what telco's can provide
- Low Latency (<1ms - perfect for VoIP, Video backhaul, etc.)
- Connectivity where you need it (Last Mile)
- Lower Costs (extremely high ROI / TCO)
- Greater Security (exceed DOD specifications)
- Eliminate telco dependency
- Greater Reliability (up to 99.999% up time)
- Faster Deployments (days rather than months)
- No need for "Right Away" paths
- Direct Communications (no central office switching or shared lines)
- No term contracts
- Control your own network
- Mobile & Roaming Applications
- Ability to redeploy hardware
- True Redundancy