Dec 04, 2020

CENIC PERSPECTIVES: Fixed Wireless Solutions to Extend Internet Connectivity

Many CENIC member community anchor institutions are looking for ways to extend online connectivity to unserved and underserved communities, particularly now that broadband has become essential during the COVID 19 pandemic. In areas where wireline broadband may be geographically or economically prohibitive, fixed wireless Internet may be an option.

While CENIC is not providing fixed wireless connections, we have been working with our members, offering our expertise in solving access and equity problems, and providing referrals to our private sector partners with experience in wireless technologies, hoping to assist as school districts, libraries, colleges, and research sites endeavor to extend their services and reach their constituents. In tandem with a previous CENIC blog article on wireless technologies as a whole, this article specifically explores fixed wireless solutions that our members are using or could use to address equity and access issues.

Fixed wireless Internet uses broadcast towers to transmit and receive Internet signals in the form of radio waves, eliminating the need for phone or cable lines. Fixed wireless can connect users in remote areas without the need for laying new cables, be installed relatively quickly, provide symmetrical services and gigabit speeds over existing spectrum bands, and be connected to fiber-optic cables at the backend as part of hybrid networks. Unlike WiFi, fixed wireless cannot pass through obstructions and requires a clear line of sight between equipment.

CENIC has partnered with commercial service providers on hundreds of fixed wireless deployments at libraries, university research sites, and most often to connect remote schools through the California Department of Education’s Broadband Infrastructure Improvement Grant (BIIG) Program. BIIG offsets the high construction costs that typically prevent schools in unserved and underserved areas from obtaining broadband. CENIC provides network design, manages a large consortia E-rate application for participating schools, and handles project management, including coordination with commercial providers.

At Captain Cooper Elementary School, located in the coastal region of Big Sur, CA, GeoLinks worked with CENIC through the K-12 BIIG program to install a hybrid network in just four weeks. “The school had just 10Mbps. We were able to deliver a hybrid microwave network that has 100Mbps and is capable of scaling up to a gigabit in the future,” said Melissa Slawson, general counsel and vice president of government affairs and education for GeoLinks. CENIC has worked with GeoLinks since 2015 and has over 50 completed projects, as well as several in the process of deployment.

At Hoaglin-Zenia Elementary School, a small school in rural Trinity County, 101Netlink built a hybrid network connecting the school to the county office of education, which is connected to CENIC’s California Research and Education Network (CalREN). “We placed a licensed microwave radio on one of the school buildings and that connects to one of our towers with line of sight. From there, we have a fiber connection that goes to another one of our towers 60 miles away, and that goes to another tower on a mountain and then to the county office education,” said Seth Johannesen, a partner in 101Netlink. Hoaglin-Zenia now has a 100Mbps connection. CENIC has partnered with 101Netlink on this and other projects over the past five years.

Activity in the wireless technology arena is significant, and fixed wireless options may provide CENIC members with cost-effective ways to better connect unserved and underserved communities. While CENIC is not providing these wireless connections, if your organization is thinking about one of these solutions, feel free to contact CENIC to leverage our expertise. Download our wireless technologies presentation to learn more.

Related blog posts

CENIC’s Role in the “Broadband for All” Initiative

When Governor Newsom, California's legislature, and administration leaders launched the "Broadband for All" Initiative, they sought the experienced expertise of CENIC and its engineering talent to serve as third-party administrator. The CENIC Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, LLC, DBA GoldenStateNet, was launched to serve the goal of collapsing the digital divide for all Californians.

The California Middle Mile Broadband Initiative and CENIC: Creating a Bespoke Organization to Serve California

As a non-profit public benefit technology corporation, CENIC has been at the forefront of work to advance and expand access to its advanced network and help close the digital divide.