Overview:

It is imperative that WiMAX service providers build and maintain their own "middle mile" infrastructure backhaul networks. This is especially true of rural areas where the incumbent telephone company has the only "middle mile" connection to the outside world. Any service provider that might pose a competitive threat to the incumbent would be wise to avoid relying on that incumbent competitor for their vital connection to an IP backbone.

In addition, any service provider vying for federal grants or loans to build new "last mile" broadband access would be wise to demonstrate to federal officials that they have constructed an independent middle mile that provides a "diverse path" or a redundant connection to the Internet for the communities to be served.

Key Findings:

Building a Last Mile broadband network without a diverse and robust Middle Mile to support it will be a waste of grant dollars. Wireless backhaul solutions such as licensed microwave and gigabit Ethernet solutions provide very cost effective alternatives to expensive fiber optic cabling (and trenching).
Wireless backhaul solutions are just as reliable as fiber optic cable
Wireless backhaul networks can be planned in a matter of days as opposed to years for fiber optic cabling
Wireless Middle Mile infrastructure may be an important priority for the BTOP

Audience:

Public sector IT directors
Incumbent telecom operators
WiMAX solution providers
Vendors for WiMAX and/or the enterprise industries
Enterprise personnel responsible for computing and communications
Investors in the WiMAX space and/or enterprise automation
Table of Contents:

Executive Summary 4
Wireless Middle Mile Solutions 5
Backhaul Requirements 9
Licensed Microwave Wireless Backhaul Solutions 10
Licenses protect the links 11
Gigabit Ethernet Wireless Backhaul Solutions 13
60 GHz: Millimeter-wave 13
80 GHz: E-Band 13
Advantages of the 60 and 80 GHz Bands 14
Very Narrow Beamwidth 14
Range and Throughput 15
Security 16
Quality of Service (QoS) 17
Interference mitigation 18
Frequency Reuse 19
Rain fades 19
Reliability/availability 20
Ease of Licensing: E-Band in the US 20
Conclusion 20
Architecture for Middle Mile Infrastructure Networks 22
Considerations?? 22
Backhaul Architectures 23
Star 23
Mesh 24
Ring 27
Consecutive Point Network 29
Conclusion 32
About the Author 33