Carrier Grade Microwave

Challenge/Opportunity

A regional fiber carrier in Texas needed to expand rapidly to provide rural backhaul services to a 4G wireless carrier.  While the ultimate goal was to build a 100% fiber optic network, the cost and timeline for fiber did not match the aggressive schedule of the wireless carrier.  The fiber carrier needed to quickly expand the reach of their network using carrier grade microwave.  The fiber carrier required a nimble partner that was experienced in all phases of microwave network planning and deployment.

Solution

Widelity quickly assembled an experienced team consisting of in-house resources and trusted subcontractors.  Widelity moved aggressively on design and site acquisition, while simultaneously implementing a deployment and acceptance process with the client which included cloud-based project and financial tracking tools.  Initial sites were deployed using microwave gear that was already qualified by the client.  Midway through the deployment Widelity helped the client evaluate and certify a second microwave system vendor.  Within two years the Widelity team had constructed over 300 long-haul microwave connections in rural Texas utilizing two microwave equipment vendors. Deliverables included:

• Site acquisition for microwave antennas on colocation tower sites.
• Path designs for carrier-grade microwave in the 11GHz and 6GHz bands.
• Microwave vendor evaluation and selection.
• Deployment process integration with the fiber carrier client including project management and financial tracking.
• Construction and commissioning of >300 microwave hops.

Benefits

Quick, coordinated, and experienced reaction to the client’s needs resulted in construction of one of the largest hybrid fiber/microwave networks in the country in less than two years allowing the client to meet their business objectives and monetize their 4G backhaul opportunity.