Mobile Backhaul in Rural Areas

Operators' rush to roll out data-intensive mobile broadband applications has typically focused on densely-populated urbanized markets, leaving rural areas underserved with no proper coverage for 2G voice services, let alone 3G and HSPA reach. Isolated regions require large installations to connect small numbers of dispersed subscribers to nationwide networks, a prohibitively expensive undertaking that, until now, could not be financially justified.

Currently, however, two significant factors are causing operators to shift their attention to these neglected territories: Market saturation and government regulation. Mature, urban markets have become extremely competitive and present low growth potential, while rural areas offer a large untapped subscriber base that requires minimal efforts for new customer acquisition. In addition, many governments have recognized the direct link between economic stimulus and ICT ubiquity, leading to a growing number of “broadband everywhere” initiatives that encourage carriers to expand their service footprint to remote areas, using both carrot (incentive grants and tax concessions) and stick (service availability as a pre-requisite for operator licenses) tactics.

As mobile providers are preparing to serve rural communities, they are still faced with the need to ensure profitable service delivery by driving down the rollout and maintenance costs associated with long-distance backhaul over varied terrains. They also need to ensure fast and simple set ups to shorten their time to market and, consequently, to revenue generation.

Enter RuralSuite, RAD's dedicated solution portfolio for extending mobile coverage to outlying areas over copper, fiber or wireless links. RuralSuite includes a full gamut of affordable, globally tested solutions that can be quickly and cost effectively deployed to backhaul mobile traffic over any type of infrastructure and topology. RuralSuite's most popular solutions include the ASMi-54 SHDSL.bis modem with an integrated router or multiplexer, the Optimux-108L fiber optic multiplexer and the Airmux-400 broadband wireless multiplexer. Working opposite the Megaplex-4100 multiservice access platform or LRS-102 fiber and copper mux rack at the operator PoP, or in a simple point-to-point topology, these devices enable providers to utilize any available infrastructure to connect remote 2G and 3G base stations to their respective controllers.