Point-to-Point (PTP) Backhaul
Historically, there have been primarily two choices in creating voice and data backhaul for an organization: leasing telco lines or provisioning private fiber connections. Both present serious drawbacks in cost, deployment time, reliability, and their dependence on third-party networks.
With the greater demand for bandwidth many organizations turn to fiber as a solution. When a fiber optic loop isn’t available, it’s tremendously expensive and difficult to install. It could take years to secure right-of-way for trenching fiber through streets or forests and can cost millions of dollars.
Point to point wireless backhaul is far easier and cheaper to deploy than fiber (See “Wireless Backhaul Makes Financial Sense”). Costs of running fiber can be upwards of $100K to $1M a mile. Point to point broadband wireless, especially point to point licensed wireless networks can now compete with fiber, not only in price per Mbps, but in performance and reliability. Plus there are many advantages of owning a private network, like security, support, and reliability.
With wireless backhaul voice and data backhaul can be achieved without the delays and costs of leasing or building a wired infrastructure. Fixed point to point wireless backhaul (also known as ptp wireless and point to point microwave), point to multipoint wireless bridges, wireless mesh, and WiMax backhaul networks allow secure and reliable access to high-speed data, voice and video services. Wireless backhaul can be done in unlicensed wireless Ethernet bridges or licensed microwave links, also known as point to point microwave. Throughputs from 100Mbps full duplex to GigE full duplex (gigabit wireless) can be achieved.