Understanding the fundamentals of wireless internet service provider (WISP) network design is essential for providing connectivity solutions to customers, especially in rural or underserved areas. With demand for wireless broadband growing more than ever, WISPs play a key role in extending connectivity where traditional wired infrastructure isn’t feasible and where conditions are favorable to even compete against more traditional ISPs.
In this article, we walk through some of the most important design aspects of WISP networks, including recent developments in telecom and networking technologies that impact their performance and reliability.
The role of WISPs in modern network connectivity
Last-mile technologies are continually being advanced throughout the world. With more choices than ever, speed, reliability, and availability are ever-increasing. Even so, there are still areas throughout the country and the world where WISPs are the only viable way to provide reliable broadband connectivity.
WISPs thrive in low-density environments, responding effectively to local needs. Coverage can be established in areas where fiber, cable, or mobile infrastructure is impractical. In such cases, WISPs serve not just as service providers but as lifelines for communities, enabling access to education, healthcare, business, and digital communication tools. Under the appropriate conditions, WISPs can also become viable competitors to more traditional and mainstream last-mile technologies, allowing them to encroach into areas that have been traditionally dominated by major telcos.
The unlicensed frequency bands in the 2.4 GHz and the 5 GHz bands have played a vital role in the proliferation of WISPs. New developments—such as the opening up of the 6 GHz band and the use of the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) in the United States—have allowed for better capacity, less congestion and more resilient services.
Building the WISP infrastructure
Among the most important aspects of WISP deployment is the infrastructure that supports the service. This includes everything from the core network and backhaul to the distribution of wireless access points and customer premises equipment (CPE). Because WISPs typically operate in areas with limited existing telecom infrastructure, their design must be cost-effective, scalable, and resilient to environmental and logistical challenges.
Core network
A WISP typically gains access to the broader internet via one or more points of presence (PoPs) of a Tier 1 or Tier 2 ISP. This PoP forms part of the core network. From this core, the WISP is responsible for distributing connectivity to the end user.
The core network typically consists of a combination of wired and wireless network infrastructure and routing hardware. WISPs will typically have minimal wired infrastructure because of the nature of the geography of the typical WISP installation. Even so, wired infrastructure is still vital in such deployments, and various technologies are typically used.
Backhaul
The backhaul is the part of the network that connects the core to the access portion of the network. Backhaul is typically achieved using a series of technologies:
- Microwave point-to-point links are often used because they offer high throughput over long distances. Such links require specialized microwave antennas and transceivers and operate on licensed frequency ranges. The use of licensed spectrum aids in interference protection but also comes with higher costs and more regulatory requirements.
- Fiber backhaul is another option that delivers unprecedented speeds and reliability between base stations and the core. However, it is often more difficult to implement due to higher costs and a potential lack of infrastructure in areas where WISPs typically deploy their networks.
- Combining WISPs with LTE/5G technology is another option for backhauling that can be leveraged. These mobile communication technologies are emerging as viable alternatives for backhaul in areas with strong mobile infrastructure.
Each backhaul option involves trade-offs in terms of cost, performance, and deployment time. Depending on availability, geography, and demand, a carefully designed combination of these options is often necessary to make a WISP viable, resulting in a highly hybrid design approach.
Access network
The access network connects end users to the WISP’s infrastructure and consists of strategically placed wireless access points and subscriber-side CPE. Careful frequency planning is imperative to avoid interference since this portion of the network typically uses unlicensed frequency bands. Tools like RF planning software and spectrum analyzers play an important role in determining the best frequencies to minimize overlap. Ongoing monitoring of frequency usage in the areas covered by WISPs is also an essential part of ensuring top-notch performance.
WISPs are typically responsible for the CPE, which includes antennas and devices that terminate the wireless link and connect to the local internal network. The arrangement of the ownership of the CPE depends upon the nature of the contract or subscription agreement.
Security, monitoring, and maintenance
As with all networks, security, monitoring, and maintenance are imperative for high-quality, high-performance networks. Because the wireless medium can be “overheard” by anyone within range, encryption and authentication must be employed to keep wireless communications confidential. Encryption standards such as WPA3 should be used for such purposes for the links between access points and customer premises equipment.
Network monitoring systems must be employed to continually observe the network and alert network administrators of any anomalous behavior or outages. Monitoring wireless frequencies is also important to ensure that interference-free communication is maintained because the use of unlicensed frequencies in a particular area can change at any time.
Maintenance is a significant part of WISP management because so much of the infrastructure is exposed to the elements. Antennas, cabling, access points, and the physical infrastructure on which equipment is mounted must be subject to a specific inspection schedule with a checklist of tasks. This is a proactive approach that helps to eliminate failures due to weathering and regular wear and tear.
Leveraging WISPs for MDUs
Multi-dwelling units (MDUs), such as apartment buildings, student dormitories, condominium complexes, and multi-tenant office spaces, present unique opportunities and challenges for WISPs.
Opportunities
MDUs bring together many potential subscribers within a compact physical footprint, making them attractive targets for WISP deployment. A WISP can provide connectivity to an entire building with just a single base station. This setup allows for a high subscriber count per access point, significantly improving the return on investment and making MDU deployments a particularly attractive and profitable opportunity for service providers. These are some of the conditions under which WISPs can become serious competitors to more traditional cable, DSL, and fiber last-mile options.
Challenges
There must be adequate internal infrastructure to distribute connectivity to each individual subscriber within a particular MDU. Internal infrastructure includes well-designed structured cabling and properly deployed network devices such as routers, switches, and access points. Such infrastructure is essential not only to deliver network connectivity to each subscriber reliably, but also to ensure that each tenant's network is segmented securely without enabling one user to access the network of another.
In this context, WISPs can partner with building management organizations to invest in internal network infrastructure as part of broader multi-year service contracts.
Additionally, careful bandwidth management is essential to prevent congestion during peak usage times, especially when a single wireless link is used as a shared backhaul.
When executed well and all of the related challenges are met, MDU deployments can provide a highly profitable and scalable investment for WISPs, offering residents and businesses an alternative to more traditional service providers.
Conclusion
Properly deployed WISPs installed with appropriately designed core networks, backhaul technologies, and access networks have a bright future in today’s telecom service provider market. They are primarily of value in more remote, less densely populated areas, as well as in places where competitive conditions are favorable. Well-designed WISPs deliver innovative, cost-effective, and competitive alternatives to network connectivity that can rival many of the most common mainstream options.
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