How do you deliver high-speed connectivity across some of the windiest, wettest and most remote islands in Europe – where salt, storms and corrosion destroy most microwave links within months? For CloudNet in Scotland, the answer is RAy3.
https//www.racom.eu/ru/case/backhaul-and-last-mile-connectivity-across-the-isles-of-scotland
Challenge: Extreme Weather, Harsh Topography and High Interference
CloudNet IT-Solutions Ltd is a systems integrator and wireless ISP specialising in hard-to-reach rural areas. Their networks support:
- residential broadband as part of the UK Government’s National Broadband strategy
- corporate and private customers
- onshore windfarms requiring connectivity to Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE)
- advanced research, including the “5G Rural First” project
But the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland present severe challenges:
- relentless North Atlantic storms
- heavy salt exposure causing rapid corrosion
- difficult terrain with long water crossings
- high levels of interference
- legacy microwave links lasting less than three months before failure
CloudNet needed a solution that could survive harsh environmental conditions while delivering stable, long-distance connectivity.
Solution: RAy3 Provides Industrial-Grade Reliability and Interference Resistance
When CloudNet trialled RACOM RAy3, the results were transformative.
Key advantages:
- industrial-hardened construction designed for extreme weather
- heavy-duty components resistant to salt and corrosion
- exceptional immunity to noise and interference
- long-distance stability across open water
- high-capacity links up to 1 Gbps
After minor initial parameter tuning, RAy3 links required no hardware maintenance.
The first installation – deployed in spring 2018 – is still in service today, running flawlessly despite years of Atlantic storms.
Results: A Maintenance-Free Network That Powers Rural Connectivity
CloudNet now uses RAy3 extensively across the Northern and Western Isles for:
- backhaul
- last-mile access
- island-to-island interconnections
- renewable energy infrastructure
- advanced 5G trials
Operational benefits:
- zero corrosion-related failures
- stable performance in harsh marine environments
- reliable connectivity that upholds CloudNet’s reputation for availability
- reduced maintenance costs and fewer field interventions
RAy3 has become a permanent part of CloudNet’s infrastructure – a proven, maintenance-free microwave solution built for some of the toughest conditions in Europe.
