Metropolitan Backhaul Network

• Client / Company: Micap Research and Innovations Limited

• Country: Ghana

• Solution: Give broadband Wireless ISP service to remote areas using a Point to Multipoint network design in 900MHz frequency for a NLOS scenario. The solution also includes backhaul and backbone links to reach further remote locations.
Company Description


Micap Research and Innovations Limited is specialized in satellite broadband communications. Micap is an international bandwidth carrier and provides last mile Internet access, communications and solutions to the West African sub region, with particular reference to remote areas, where Internet or telephone facilities are difficult to reach or simply non-existent.

Micap is committed to see every business organization, school, home, individual across the sub-Sahara Africa both in urban and remote areas connected to the internet and accessing the information superhighway. This Micap believes will strengthen the knowledge base of all persons and support business, individual and national economic growth.
Project Description

The project demanded the use of three different frequencies such as 2.4GHz, 900MHz as well as 5GHz.

In that sense we offered a solution based in our WIMAX/WIFI product, the MB-ROMB V3 which supports license and free license bands like 900MHz, 2.3-2.7GHz, 4.9 to 6.1Ghz and 3.5GHz frequency, and new 700MHz or 2.8GHz.

The importance of having a multiband radio is the ability to tune to different frequency channels, thus each node can receive a new packet transmitting an older one at the same time.The MB-ROMBV3 is a modular unit that comes with radio slots to select between several Mini PCI modules the desired frequency and power.

More over, the MB-ROMBV3 is a WiMAX upgradeable product; which means this solution ensures an efficient scalable system that has no limit on frequency, power and technology.
  
Map of Ghana.

The first MB-ROMBV3 was installed as a Base Station and it was configured to work with one port in 2.4GHz for mobile and residential subscribers. In that sense, it was required the MiniPCI card MB-MSAGUHP with 1 Watt output power in 2.4GHz. An Omni directional antenna was connected to the MB-ROMB V3 in order to broadcast the signal 360°. Then allowed users could automatically connect to the AP and have the Internet service anywhere. In the same way, the CPE subscribers were able to surf the internet from their office, home or other public places.

The second port of the MB-ROMB V3 was configured in 900MHz with 700mW output power using the MB-M900HP+ to broadcast the signal with a sector panel antenna W90-13SP120. This combination would broadcast the signal for much longer distances to reach remote residential subscribers that may have critical problems with Line of sight. In that sense, using 900MHz frequency was the best cost effective solution giving connection to further users in wooden areas where there is absence of line of sight.

Another Base station with the MB-ROMB V3 was installed in a different location several miles away from the first one. It had similar configuration using both 2.4GHz and 900MHz frequencies for different kind of subscribers.

In order to connect these 2 Base units, it was necessary to make a Backhaul Link using 5GHz frequency. This was accomplished by using the AIR-BR500AGH with 200mW in Bridge mode. Clear and transparent bridge was achieved with excellent throughput and 99.99% reliability.






Benefits:

• Multiple band capacity which allows running different applications and different types of users supported by the same radio.

• Great coverage and maximum penetration using 900MHz frequency for NLOS application using the MB-M900HP with sector panel antennas and the ISP-CPE910 for the subscribers.

• High speed interconnection between AP and clients as well as for the backhaul link that connects two Base Locations.

• Upgradable system for new standards 802.11n, 802.16.

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