As Congress debates how to fund more access to broadband, there seems to be a lack of knowledge concerning WISPs – Wireless Internet Service Providers. Typically, cable and fiber internet access is only available where the high deployment costs are outweighed by the customer base. In remote areas, DSL and dial-up options are sometimes available, but a faster, more reliable option is wireless internet access.
Electronics 360 explains the wireless option began as a ‘do it yourself’ option in the 1990s, when neighbors would connect a WiFi transceiver and antenna to a high spot to share internet access. Since then, wireless internet providers have grown to nearly 2,000, mostly in small, remote communities, and still rely heavily on towers to broaden access for customers.
Around four million people currently subscribe to wireless internet providers, including those using the service as a back-up for cable and fiber coverage. Wireless internet consists of fixed wireless access and broadband wireless access, and every tower connected via base stations and microwave radios adds to the service area.
Other technologies utilized by WISPs are Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), and sectored antenna systems. MIMOs condense more data into bandwidth, while sectored antennas separate coverage areas into regions, each one served by its own equipment. The result is more available bandwidth for customers, and reliable network speeds. Although not as popular in urban areas where cable and fiber are preeminent, wireless internet options are integral for providing low cost, reliable internet in rural areas.
April 3, 2017
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