Netflix, Skype, YouTube, video conferencing, IP TV - you name it, bandwidth-hungry service has become an essential part of our 21st century lives. Whether for personal or professional use, we all need high-speed connectivity.

While mobile devices are able to satisfy a growing share of our broadband needs, data traffic over fixed network is estimated to be ten times greater (Source: Cisco). Decision makers view ‘wired’ fiber networks as the future of high-speed broadband, with fixed-wireless technologies seen as complimentary for sub-urban and rural areas or in difficult environments.

This week’s announcement by Alphabet Inc, the company rolling out Google Fiber throughout the United States, has sent nothing short of a shockwave to the entire service provider industry, showing that wireless technology should play a much greater role in delivering broadband services and staying profitable.

For those who missed it, Alphabet’s Access – which operates Google Fiber, decided to put a halt to its fiber roll-out and focus delivery of its broadband services through wireless technology that ensures better cost performance. Alphabet Chairman Eric Schmidt said about wireless technology that they are “cheaper than digging up your garden.”

There is little doubt that broadband wireless solutions are more advantageous – they can be deployed in days versus months, with no issues of rights of way, no digging and no hassle of pole rentals. Moreover, their cost is insensitive to the distance of the customer’s location.

And what about capacity? Take RADWIN’s JET as an example. A beamforming Point-to-MultiPoint link that reliably provides up to 750Mbps at great distances and at a fraction of the cost, enabling a ‘fiber-like’ user experience with a capacity of up to 100Mbps. Moreover, this solution allows service providers to cost effectively scale their network to serve a growing territory, increase the number of subscribers in existing sectors, accommodate for growing capacity per user, and serve a mix of household and strict SLA businesses, all by using the same product.

If a leading player such as Google has begun to recognize the benefits of wireless technologies over fiber infrastructure, then it is only a matter of time until this paradigm shift trickles down through the market. One thing is for sure: the wireless revolution is underway!
 
For more details about RADWIN's JET PtMP solution, click here.