Highlights

• RAy
• Backhaul and Last Mile
• Systems Integrator / ISP
• Corporates and private
• Resistance to Interference
• High reliability

CloudNet IT-Solutions Ltd is a System Integrator / Wireless Internet Service Provider. Its networks are specifically designed to meet the needs of a broad spectrum of customers. It delivers interconnectivity to problematic and hard to reach areas in the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland providing domestic ISP services as part of the UK Government National Broadband strategy to provide 30 Mb into every home. It also provides onshore windfarms with a connection to Scottish and Southern Energy plc (SSE).

CloudNet even provided the broadband network that underpinned transmission of rural 5G traffic in the  ‘5G rural first’ project, delivering backhaul connectivity for testbeds and trials to exploit 5G benefits for rural communities and industries like agriculture, broadcasting and utilities.

The biggest issues in the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland are always weather, the topography and the robustness and reliability of microwave links used. Historically, most links didn’t last more than three months without serious corrosion and the need for frequent, costly maintenance. That is, until RACOM’s RAy3 microwave link was trialled!

Thanks to its industrial hardened design and use of heavy-duty industrial components, RAy3 has withstood everything the North Atlantic could throw at it through rain or shine. Apart from some early ‘tweaking’ of the set up to change parameter settings, the radios have continued operating maintenance free. The first link was installed in the Spring of 2018 and is still on site without the need for any hardware maintenance!

Many RACOM links are across bodies of open water connecting island communities. Thanks to RAy’s exceptional robustness against noise and interference, there have been no reflection issues with the signal and CloudNet have maintained the high levels of service and availability they have built their reputation on.

RAy3, with its higher specifications and 1 Gbps speed capability is now a firm part of the network covering the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland and provides stable and maintenance free connection in environmentally challenging conditions.

Highlights

• RAy, 10,11 & 17 GHz
• Government services
• Backhaul links
• B2G — Business to Government services
• Equatorial conditions
• Excellent Stability & Reliability
• Long links — 24 Km

RAy backhaul links have been deployed in Ghana to provide a fast and reliable wireless radio communications service to major organisations in the country. They are helping the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority realise its vision to be the leading trade and logistics hub of West Africa. Ghana Community Network Services Limited, an Information and Communication Technology Public-Private Partnership, is also using RAy backhaul links to fulfil its mandate to provide e-Solutions to the Ghanaian government.

Both companies found that their existing communications networks were completely unsatisfactory. During the frequent and heavy equatorial rains, communications signals were constantly being dropped, failing to meet the high demands of these blue chip companies.

As an initial stage to source a robust solution, all available technologies were considered and eventually it was decided to install Microwave links. The cost for deploying microwave is less expensive compared to other technologies, Microwave links satisfy the bandwidth requirement of the clients and the links are easy to deploy.

During the more detailed link design, the optimal Microwave unit proved to be RACOM’s RAy products. The end users were impressed with stable data speed of over 100 Mbps, network availability above 99% and easy management with the ability to setup Vlans and other modern IP functionality.

All the links that have been installed offer at least 100 Mbps speed and dependent on link length, they use 90 cm, 68cm or 40cm antennas. The longest link, using RAy -11 units covers a distance of 24 Km.

Such is the satisfaction from both end users of the level of service being provided by RACOM’s RAy microwave units that expansion of the network has been planned and is ongoing.

Highlights

• RipEX 450 MHz
• Mountain Rescue service
• PMR voice system
• Base to Base backhaul
• 50kHz channel, 16 DEQAM, 140 kbps
• Mountainous Region
• PtP Robust NLOS

TOPR [Tatrzanskie Ochotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe], founded in 1909, is a government funded organisation that provides Mountain rescue services in the Polish Tatras mountains and reports on weather and avalanche conditions.

A key part of the infrastructure that supports these services is a permanently manned rescue shelter high in the Tatras mountains. Having search and rescue personnel stationed at 1,700 meters, offers much faster access to large parts of the region in times of emergency.

The isolated PMR base station on the tower close to the rescue shelter covered local communication needs, but it was not interconnected with the other base stations in the network. Because of this, rescuers didn’t have connection with the rest of their team in the valley, nor with helicopters scrambled to support search and rescue missions. Staff at the rescue shelter were forced to use GSM services for communication with colleagues, but with very limited success. Being a mountainous region there were many coverage blind spots and the GSM channel was showing capacity limitations due to increased usage by tourists.

A decision was taken within TOPR to source and commission a reliable link between the Base stations at the rescue shelter and below in the valley, providing secure communications within TOPR using a private PMR licensed radio with Kairos trunk connection. Initial hopes of using a 5GHz microwave link were dropped when link analysis showed this was not possible due to the distance and NLOS environment.

RACOM’s RipEX radio was then identified as being the optimal solution. Despite the NLOS environment and 15 km link distance, network throughput using RipEX is enough for effective PMR base station communications. Indeed, this radio modem provides sufficient coverage and speed, with a 50 kHz channel to easily meet all end user need. Operating at 450 MHz on the UHF band using 16DEQAM modulation, 140 kbps and powered at 2W, RipEX passed every test with flying colours.

With high resistance to multipath propagation and interference, an industrial hardened design and the ability to work seamlessly in extreme conditions, RipEX is sure to be helping TOPR save lives in the Tatras Mountains for many years to come.

Highlights

• RAy, 11 GHz
• National Emergency system
• Fibre backup
• Two-way mobile backbone
• Government centres connectivity
• Exceptional reliability
• Ease of installation

The Jamaican government recently commissioned a major project to provide connectivity for a National Disaster-Emergency Two-Way Mobile Communication System. Having investigated a number of options, they realized that Microwave links were the most effective technology and after thorough testing, RAy proved to be the optimal solution for a number of reasons. Selected initially for its bandwidth, throughput, reliability and pricing, the quality of the product and ease of installation also impressed the customer.

During the final design of the network, additional functionality was added to maximize the overall efficiency of the solution and investment made:

• The network provides broadband connectivity between the government head office and municipal councils, in places backing up fibre connections
• For certain local government centres the backbone provides last mile connectivity for the transportation of voice, high speed data and image transmission
• The network will additionally be used to provide interconnectivity for Traffic Lights, Camera System and Redundancy High Speed Communication and for any other demand as determined by the authority

The backbone interconnects more than Twenty-Five (25) Two-Way Radio Repeater sites and Fourteen (14) Local Government Centres.

Mr. Antonio Peterkin, distributor for RACOM in Jamaica reports there were no problems with installation and that everything functions very well with no downtime experienced.

Highlights

• RAy, 17, 18 & 24 GHz
• Service provider in Ireland
• Backhaul & Last mile
• Corporates & Private
• 100 links by 2017
• Easy configuration
• Resistance to disturbances

Ripplecom operates the largest fixed wireless network in Ireland. It is a Limerick-based technology solutions provider, delivering broadband, voice and other IT services to business and private customers. Ripplecom combines industry expertise with their leading network technologies to provide complete and tailored business solutions for connectivity, voice, security and data backup that help drive business growth. In 2017 Ripplecom’s network is providing services to 2,000 business and 4,000 private households with customer numbers growing continuously.

Ripplecom uses RAy microwave links as part of its product portfolio since 2015 and by end 2017 had about 100 links installed. The links are mainly used for Backhaul of Fixed Wireless Access Sectors, facilitating the delivery of dedicated synchronous bandwidth to corporate customers. Renowned for its exceptional system gain and resistance to disturbances, RAy provides a perfect solution for this type of application. In some instances the links are also used for high speed last mile connections.

RAy microwave units excel in their technical parameters, professional design, exceptional reliability and quality. However, Ripplecom’s field engineers like working with this unit because of another feature of the product. They really like RACOM RAy microwave units because they are so easy to configure and set up compared with other products in the Microwave space.

They are quoted as saying “RAy was clearly designed with engineers in mind which makes it much easier and faster to roll out.”

Highlights

• RAy, 11 GHz
• Air traffic control
• Desert environment, +50 ^oC
• Long haul link, 18 km
• 90 cm antennas
• -65dB RSSI recorded
• No downtime from 2015

The GCAA, an Emirate ‘blue chip’ company, maintains control and regulation of civil aviation in the UAE including provision of en-route air navigation services and all aspects of flight safety throughout the region. In 2009, the GCAA opened its new Air Navigation Centre, considered one of the busiest and the most technically advanced air traffic management facility in the region, if not the world.

One major problem that has since been identified and needed to be overcome was poor communication between Fujairah airport air traffic control centre and the communications tower. Since there are base stations for voice communication with aircrafts and other important services on this tower, the quality and stability of the link between tower and centre is very critical.

When looking for a solution to this problem GCAA quickly identified a major factor that would make finding an optimal solution more complex. The distance between Fujairah airport and the media mast is over 18 km with hilly terrain lying between the two sites.

After experimenting with a number of solutions, none of which could provide satisfactory levels of reliability over this critical link, RACOM were invited to perform a full transmission analysis and proposed that its RAy microwave link would provide the optimal solution. The final proposal was to use 11GHz band and 90 cm antennas.

RACOM RAy microwave units offer high radio receiver robustness against unwanted interference and exceptional guaranteed sensitivity that allows data speed gain in very challenging conditions and on links over extreme distances. With each unit individually climate chamber tested and certified to operate in extreme temperatures, GCAA accepted our recommendation and installed the link. Since GCAA wanted to eliminate any problem, during installation and commissioning a RACOM engineer was ready to travel to site, but was eventually not required.

Since becoming operational in 2015 to time of writing (Dec 2017), there has been no downtime over the link. The regulator and carriers are now very happy with the levels of communication provided from this communication tower and GCAA are delighted that RACOM has been able to support them in providing the high quality link for voice and data transmissions they consider to be one of their core operational functions.

Highlights

• RAy, 24 GHz
• WISP in Hungary
• Long-haul links
• Full speed even over 10 km
• Exceptional system gain
• 68 cm antennas
• Full outdoor

ACE Telecom, a 100% Hungarian-owned company was founded in 1997 with the aim of offering alternative Internet technologies including high quality Internet services to business partners in previous blind spots. Since then, ACE has expanded its portfolio with additional Internet based solutions and has, as a result, enjoyed continuous growth. This has only been possible because of the strong trust they place in their IT infrastructure.

In their never ending search to continue offering improved reliability and levels of service, ACE Telecom became one of the first ISP’s in Hungary to start building links using RAy24 microwave units. RAy24 was chosen for its exceptional system gain and resistance to disturbances but has since showcased its excellent technical parameters, and exceptional reliability and build quality.

Despite having a link distance of 10.2 Km, one such link has been operating at full capacity of 360Mb since installation. Attila Farmosi, Managing Director of ACE is very satisfied with the data transfer capability of his new infrastructure.

It will not be long before RAy24 microwave units become an integral component of ACE Telecom’s infrastructure!

Highlights

• RAy, 24 GHz
• Biggest WISP in Hungary
• Migration from 5 GHz to 24 GHz
• Link length up to 10 km
• Low consumption
• Easy setup & management
• Long warranty

Established in 2002, ZNET Telekom is now the biggest WISP in Hungary. Their core business has traditionally been to provide connectivity to the residential market. However, they are now finding their B2B involvement expanding rapidly. The commercial sector naturally places higher demands on improved SLA’s; an issue forcing ZNET to rethink their operating strategy.

Fast becoming a common problem in many territories, saturation of the 5 GHz band has been causing issues with capacity, stability and latency. Crucially, these factors are affecting acceptable levels of service to some customers.

Having fully assessed a number of microwave units in the market against key parameters, RAy 24 GHz has been selected as the optimal solution by ZNET for migration and new links based on: low consumption, resilience, best-in-market management software, long warranty period and crucially, the same hardware for both upper and lower units. Cost performance ratios also proved to be an important factor in the final decision.

ZNET are currently installing RAy 24 GHz license free links over distances up to 5 km using 68 cm antennas and 10 km using 90 cm antennas. There have been no issues with either implementation or commissioning of these links.

Indeed, ZNET’s roadmap now includes deployment of further RAy 24 GHz links and the introduction of RAy licensed products within their networks.

ZNET acknowledge that RAy solutions have become part of ZNET’s success and are providing excellent value to their customers on a daily basis.