Wireless Internet In the Rural Environment

1
Wireless Internet In the Rural Environment
2
Who We Are and What We Do

• Began in 1905 as The Farmers Co-op Telephone
  Company.
• Began delivering wireless Cable TV over MMDS in
  1989
• Began delivering wireless Internet in 1999
• Two-time WCA award winner (2002 2003) for
  delivering NLOS broadband wireless service to
  underserved markets

3
Technologies Currently Used

• Phasecom Speed Demon (LOS)
• -currently 450 tower serving 30 mile radius
• Vyyo V3000 (LOS)
• -currently 2 - 455 towers serving 30 mile
  radius
• NextNet Expedience (NLOS)
• -currently 7 sites up to 20 mile radius
• Lucent Orinoco (NLOS)
• -currently 1 site up to 1 mile radius

4
Planning your Wireless Internet Site

• Items to cover today
• Prospective site
• Site survey
• Market assessment
• Equipment selection
• Implement and deploy
• Maintain and service

5
Prospective Sites

• Broadband internet availability in the area
• None in area Sites 1 2
• Consumer interest
• Strong interest (Consumer, municipal, and
  business) Sites 1 2
• Site within MMDS BTA (License area)
• Yes Within current MMDS BTA Sites 1 2
• Number of homes passed
• Acceptable gt300 Site 1
• Backhaul requirements (T1 data support)
• Able to support with wireless PtP system. Site
  1
• Location for Transmit Station and Headend
• Lease with local farmer for Site 1, lease with
  city water tower for Site 2

6
Operation Anytown, IAPopulation 700 Site 1
7
Backhaul Solution
5.8 GHz Western Multiplex 10Meg Radio
Utilize current PtP system to supply backhaul
8
Transmit and Headend Site
120 Sector Antenna
Anytown, IA Headend
9
Site Survey
Anytown, Iowa predicted RSS (Received Signal
Strength), 70 antenna height, 120º sector
antenna
Service Confidence Level
Yellow 90 Red 70 Light Blue
50 Green 1
Harvestore Site
10
Non Line of Sight Equipment
11
Operation Anytown, IAPopulation 228 Site 2
12
Line of Sight Equipment
13
Lessons Learned

• Must manage backhaul cost in rural setting
• Negotiate competative rates for fractionalized
  DS-3 connection point.
• PtP infrastructure.

14
Lessons Learned (Continued)

• Develop Partnerships
• Faster deployment of services.
• Provides higher level of service to consumer.
• Sharing of costs and profits.
• Sharing infrastructures and ideas.
• Supports local economy.

15
Conclusion

• Wireless broadband internet is working for the
  Northwest Rural Iowa area.
• We are growing as an industry both in services
  and technology.
• We need FCC support to continue providing these
  services.
• Easier licensing maintenance of MMDS spectrum.
• Cost of MMDS licensing in rural areas needs to be
  reflective to population.
• Working together to meet the needs of the rural
  community.