Wireless Backhaul for ISPs

Transcription

1 Wireless Backhaul for ISPs Connecting communities to the global village Introduction Internet service providers are facing a disproportionate relation between demand for higher capacities on one hand, and fierce competition driving down revenues on the other causing ISPs to search for options to lower their costs. One of the first solutions they look for is an alternative to expensive leasing or ownership of optical fiber. Regardless of access technology, be it DSL, WiMax, WiFi, CDMA or other, microwave backhaul is the most cost-effective method for bringing the Internet from the point-of-presence (PoP) to customers access points. Fiber deployment is especially challenging in rural environments where leasing or owning fiber, whose deployment cost is a function of distance, is very expensive especially when there is not a concentration of paying customers to justify it. As a result, rural communities tend to be under-served and are often subject to 1990s-like bit-rates and access technologies. Even in urban environments, fiber deployment can be challenging and expensive when trenching involves government bureaucracy and right-of-way issues. Fiber s long lead times can be cut significantly by using quickand-simple-to-deploy microwave. Microwave technology can also open up new opportunities for ISPs, such as offering businesscontinuity and disaster recovery solutions for enterprises. Deploying redundant paths (e.g., rings) with microwave is much simpler and less expensive than with fiber and can therefore increase network availability and enable the provider to offer more attractive SLAs for enterprise customers. Short lastmile or even last-few-hundred-yards segments from the fiber path to customer premises can be connected almost instantly by deploying microwave instead of waiting for fiber. 1

2 ISP Backhaul Network Challenges and Requirements High Capacity and Reach: As demand for capacity continues to escalate, service providers have to be ready for the bandwidth tsunami by installing high-capacity backhaul with high spectral efficiency in order to keep frequency licensing expenses low, and to be ready for future upgrades and expansion. Enhanced capacity-boosting techniques must be implemented in order to better utilize scarce and costly spectrum. Varying geographic conditions require both urban and rural reach, as well as no-lineof-sight solutions. Simplicity and Flexibility: ISPs will often install equipment on end-user premises and lease tower space at aggregation points. Thus backhaul equipment must be of small form factor both for fitting into customer premises as well as for reducing costs associated with tower leasing. Changing configurations, paths or re-installing equipment in different locations must be quick and simple to adapt to ISPs evolving connectivity needs. Remote management must be available for addition/elimination of customer locations and for remote configuration and fault-monitoring of equipment located on customer premises. A unified management solution for all types of backhaul equipment is imperative. Differentiated Services: The backhaul network needs to recognize that not all information has the same priority. Domestic consumers might expect best-effort service while enterprise customers require stringent SLAs and guaranteed bandwidth (and will pay a premium for these guarantees). The wireless backhaul network must employ a QoS mechanism to allow ISPs to offer diversified SLA packages and to sell more revenue-generating services with predictable service performance. Reliability: ISPs looking to reduce on-site maintenance-related expenses require a cost-effective transmission medium with high reliability. They prefer carrier-grade products with high MTBF which were developed and integrated by a specialist vendor, rather than settle for generic OEM radios which may be cheap to procure, but place a heavy burden on operational expenditure, repair times and customer satisfaction. 2

3 Ceragon s ISP Backhaul Solutions Ceragon s comprehensive product portfolio is designed to address all the requirements of forwardthinking Internet and business service providers. Ceragon is the leading global microwave vendor with high-quality, carrier-grade products developed and integrated in-house. Ceragon s radios are installed in over 130 countries. The company offers world class experience and expertise to wireless operators worldwide. The comprehensive portfolio of products provides microwave-based ISP backhaul solutions deployed from the access portion of the network all the way to the ISP PoP, all managed under a single network management system (NMS). As a low-tco, high-mtbf, quick-deployment alternative to fiber, Ceragon s microwave products meet stringent latency and availability requirements while reducing operating costs and expediting the operator s return on investment. Typical ISP backhaul scenario: point-to-multipoint connectivity (PtMP) for access aggregation, point-to-point connectivity (PtP) for backhaul to the PoP and enterprise connectivity, and high-power PtP connectivity for rural backhaul 3

4 Access-Point Backhaul and Aggregation When access technology is short-range, like WiFi, a large number of hot spots need to be spread out among the locations where customers will be using them. The abundance of these access points necessitates an efficient method of backhauling and aggregating them. Ceragon offers FibeAir 2500, a point-to-multipoint microwave backhaul solution capable of backhauling numerous end-points to a single aggregation point. FibeAir 2500 operates at sub-6 GHz frequencies making it suitable for street-level installation since line-of-sight is not necessary at these frequencies. It also provides the option to work in either licensed or unlicensed frequencies. FibeAir 2500 is a small form-factor solution with integrated antennas capable of reaching distances as far as 20 km (13 miles). Each base station has a total aggregated capacity of up to 200Mbps with up to 50Mbps per subscriber unit and, since the radio works with TDD technology, the ratio of uplink/downlink capacity is easily configurable enabling efficient backhaul of inherently asymmetrical Internet service. FibeAir 2500 also supports QoS requirements with prioritization by subscriber unit and/or VLAN to ensure committed bandwidth for enterprise customers. FibeAir 2500 is managed under the same NMS as the rest of Ceragon s microwave solutions. Urban/Suburban Backhaul For backhaul over short or medium distances, Ceragon offers its FibeAir IP-10C highcapacity backhaul solution. IP-10C is an all-outdoor Ethernet radio (zero footprint on customer premises) with typical link spans of 20-50km (13-30 miles). IP-10C s exceptionally high system gain, Adaptive Coding & Modulation (ACM) mechanism for power efficiency, and automatic transmit power control ensure optimal link availability under any conditions. Enhanced header compression techniques yield higher spectral efficiency without compromising on link robustness. IP-10C uses a latency-optimized radio design employing sophisticated hierarchical QoS capabilities. It operates at licensed frequencies from 6-42GHz, as well as in the unlicensed 24GHz band. For ensuring SLAs with enterprise customers, IP-10C can be delivered with an optional complementary demarcation device to allow end-to-end Operation Administration and Maintenance (OAM) functionality. Rural Backhaul For long-distance, rural backhaul links, Ceragon offers the FibeAir IP-10Q platform coupled with its high-power RFU-HP radios. IP-10Q is a powerful compact platform with up to four carriers in a 1RU chassis providing a highcapacity solution for backhaul of rural access points. With ultra-low latency, IP-10Q enables links to cascade further away from the ISPs PoP allowing wider coverage in any given network cluster. Ultralow latency also translates into longer radio chains, broader radio rings and shorter recovery times. 4

5 Multi-layer header compression boosts capacity and spectral efficiency without compromising on link robustness. The RFU-HP has higher transmission power than standard-power radios enabling it to reach distances exceeding 80km (50 miles). It has a green mode to reduce operational expenses whereby it dynamically changes power consumption according to link conditions. Professional Services As the #1 wireless backhaul specialist, Ceragon not only offers innovative equipment but also a wide variety of professional services. From network and radio planning, through installation and commissioning, training and maintenance and support services, including execution of complete turnkey projects, Ceragon s vast experience and global presence can expedite ISPs network deployment and time-to-revenue while maintaining the network in compliance with SLAs. Success Story Who: Florida Rural Broadband Authority (FRBA), a private business initiated to bring broadband Internet service to two underserved rural regions in Florida. Challenges: A wireless network delivering high capacities to be deployed within the 15 participating counties in only six months, in a variety of geographical and weather conditions. Solution: FibeAir2500 for aggregating WiMax and WiFi access points and FibeAir IP-10 for backhaul from aggregation points to fiber PoP. Why Ceragon: High-capacity, reliable and small form-factor products, all managed by a single NMS, and an experienced local team who designed and deployed the network on time. About Ceragon As the world s #1 wireless backhaul specialist, Ceragon Networks (NASDAQ: CRNT) ensures that mobile and fixed-line carriers, as well as private network operators, have the transmission capacity to deliver the voice and premium data services that we all rely on. Ceragon s commitment to research and development allows us to develop generation after generation of innovative solutions for our customers. With unmatched technology that increases capacity while lowering cost, Ceragon s advanced microwave systems allow wireless service providers to evolve their networks effectively from circuit-switched and hybrid concepts to all-ip networks. Ceragon s solutions are designed to support all wireless access technologies, delivering more capacity over longer distances under any given deployment scenario. Ceragon s solutions are deployed by more than 430 wireless service providers of all sizes, and hundreds of private networks in more than 130 countries. Visit Ceragon at 5