By Teresa Huysamen, Wireless Business Unit Manager at Duxbury Networking

In South Africa, the demand for high-speed voice, data, and video communications is virtually universal across businesses. This necessity extends to serving multiple individuals across diverse geographic locations. One effective solution to address this need is through wireless broadband point-to-multipoint network systems, ensuring ubiquitous access anytime, anywhere.

Access to wireless networks can revolutionize various aspects, notably rural connectivity, video surveillance, and business connectivity. In terms of rural connectivity, wireless networks offer a cost-effective solution for providing broadband access to multiple locations. With the right solutions provider, scalable, interference-resistant, high-speed connectivity can be delivered without significant equipment or software investments, making it an accessible option for bridging the digital divide in remote areas.

Wireless infrastructure plays a crucial role in facilitating the swift deployment of video security cameras to precise locations as needed. Its low latency ensures consistently sharp images. Moreover, in terms of business connectivity, wireless technology empowers organizations to extend their reach to remote areas and facilitate high-speed information sharing through data, voice, and video services.

Maximizing the utilization of the available wireless spectrum stands as a significant challenge. Spectral efficiency, the capacity to transmit more data within the existing frequency range, remains a paramount focus for service providers. To ensure customers receive reliable, high-speed, and always available connectivity, service providers depend on cutting-edge access solutions. An example is the Cambium Networks PMP 450m Fixed Wireless Access Point, distributed by Duxbury Networking.  Leveraging Multi-User MIMO technology, the 450m excels in delivering spectral efficiency and exceptional performance, even in high-interference environments.

Its ability to help customers scale, cover more ground, and unlock new business opportunities through a compelling return on investment cannot be ignored. The platform features cnMedusa technology that combines a smart beamforming antenna array with multiple RF transmit and receive chains. In practice, this means it effectively multiplies the available capacity by more than three times.

Making practical sense

A focused beam is directed towards the intended recipient, such as a customer requiring data transmission, ensuring that they receive signals exclusively from that direction across all allocated receive chains. These signals are then meticulously processed to separate the desired signal from any interfering signals, effectively eliminating unwanted disturbances and minimizing their impact on network performance.

Moreover, leveraging the PMP 450m yields enhanced network performance. By mitigating interference, this platform ensures consistent and reliable connectivity for end-users, regardless of their location, be it densely populated urban areas or remote rural regions. This optimization translates to an improved user experience, as interference is efficiently managed, leading to faster data rates, lower latency, and enhanced network stability.

As the demand for wireless connectivity escalates, service providers and companies necessitate an adaptable environment to accommodate evolving network demands. The PMP 450m platform, equipped with interference mitigation features, exhibits resilience amidst fluctuating radio frequency conditions and emerging technologies.

Performance boost

For wireless internet service providers (WISPs), the capability to provide outstanding performance and value in fixed wireless connectivity marks a groundbreaking advancement. Being a software-defined radio (SDR) platform, the PMP 450m can achieve interference mitigation through advanced technologies such as digital beamforming, null steering, and post-processing of data.

As observed during the recent Wireless Access Provider Association’s (WAPA) Gauteng Regional event in Krugersdorp earlier this month, wireless internet service providers (WISPs) face mounting pressure to broaden the applications of Wi-Fi and discover fresh avenues for business expansion. However, WISPs recognize that interference presents a formidable challenge, impeding network performance and reliability.  Regrettably, traditional approaches to combating interference frequently prove inadequate, resulting in suboptimal user experiences and diminished network efficiency.

Advancements in fixed wireless connectivity are poised to revolutionize internet access, particularly in regions like South Africa where widespread connectivity is imperative. By tackling the crucial challenge of interference through technologies such as digital beamforming, null steering, and post-processing data refinement, these solutions bolster network performance, opening avenues for new business opportunities, and enhancing user experiences.