Building Networks

Deploying wireless networks can be complicated, but having the appropriate framework and tools can help. This page will be updated regularly with new & helpful resources.

5G promises higher speeds but shorter range

Popular 5G Use Cases

Use Case Network Details
Municipal Broadband Municipal broadband aims to provide access to unserved and underserved markets.  They often use fiber backhauls for fixed wireless access using small cell base stations and repeaters. This provides a more cost-effective option to traditional fiber-to-the-home internet packages.
Home Broadband via Wireless ISP (WISP) With 5G technology, WISPs are able to compete with traditional ISPs that often target high-profit subscribers. WISPs typically deploy fixed wireless using fiber backhauls with small cell base stations and repeaters to reach neighborhoods, without sacrificing speed and reliability.
Home Broadband via Cellular Network With 5G’s higher data transmission speeds and lower latency, some mobile network operators are extending cellular services to deliver broadband internet to homes and businesses. These services are competing with cable and fiber companies to cover the last mile.
Mobile Broadband via Cellular Network Mobile network operators continue their evolution from 4G to 5G, increasing data throughput rates while lowering latency. This is important due to the increasing user demand for more data usage and lower latency, spanning use cases such as videos, social media, and gaming.
Mobile Data Offloading In addition to cellular networks, mobile network operators can also leverage complimentary wireless networks to deliver data to their customers. Offloading helps increase data rates for users, reduce network congestion, and even minimize roaming fees in certain areas.
Private Networks Private networks are common for large corporations aiming to deliver fixed wireless access to their employees. Private networks often use a fiber backhaul with a mesh network of 5G small cell base stations and repeaters to reach areas that employees commonly work from.

 

Phases of Building Wireless Networks

Phase Details
Planning
  1. Establish goals, budget, team, and resources.
  2. Determine which phases of the project you are able to hire for and which ones are better to outsource.
  3. Research spectrums and technology that are most suitable for the network sites.
  4. Conduct financial modeling of various solutions and scenarios across five years.
Design
  1. Start with RF planning tools to simulate coverage in each location.
  2. Test and optimize with different spectrums, obstructions, and usage scenarios.
  3. Design for core technical requirements such as reliability, latency, handoffs, and security.
  4. Extrapolate data congestion, bandwidth, and throughput scenarios.
Site Acquisition
  1. Research permit requirements and expected turnaround times.
  2. Comply with federal, regional, and building codes.
  3. Determine the ideal equipment location and height at each site.
  4. Start with high-priority locations and sites with fewer host options.
  5. Consider using an automated site acquisition platform like Airwaive to streamline tedious processes.
Deployment
  1. Research equipment cost, lead time, and country-specific licensing.
  2. Interview installation companies and ensure that they are certified, bonded, licensed, insured, and trained with your selected equipment and spectrums.
  3. Confirm that the installers will also handle provisioning, maintenance, and future expansion plans.
Maintenance
  1. Conduct final testing and provisioning of the network.
  2. Define SLAs and responsible parties for monitoring and maintenance.
  3. Establish agreed-upon key performance indicators KPIs that track network performance.
  4. Define milestones that could trigger future expansion plans.

 

Airwaive Platform Tips

Use Case Resources
3D Mapping

Navigating The Map in 3D Mode

Analyzing Line-of-Sight Obstructions

Visualizing Signal Strength & Coverage Area

Evaluating Potential Sites

Building Information

More coming soon…

Budgeting Coming soon