Gigabit Wireless MMW Radios Deployed in London

Corporate LAN connections in London using CableFree E-band MMW Radios

CableFree 1Gbps E-band MMW radios have been deployed for corporate customers above the busy streets of London as a high speed and cost-effective alternative to Fibre Optic Leased Lines.

CableFree E-Band MMW Link Installed in London
CableFree E-Band MMW Link Installed in London in 2018
The links carry full-speed LAN traffic for a major customer as an alternative to Fibre Optics.

Major Benefits of Wireless 1Gbps MMW Links

Compared to Leased Lines and Fibre Optics, wireless E-band links offer many benefits including:

  • Immediate availability: no waiting for digging, trenches or wayleaves
  • Fast to install: typically 3 hours to complete
  • One-off cost for asset purchase: No ongoing lease for service
  • Low-cost “Light License” at only GBP 50 per year (USD 75 in USA) protects “first use” of spectrum
  • Designed & Proven to be highly reliable in all conditions
  • Portable Asset: can be moved to other sites when needed
  • No disruption to link caused by digging or 3rd party maintenance work
  • Easy to maintain: just one box either end of link, fully manageable

Free Link Design and Consultancy Service

Our team offer a Free Link Design service direct from ourselves – the vendor – to verify reliable operation before purchase and deployment.  Based on 22 years experience of Broadband Fixed Wireless equipment design and installation, the experience of our Wireless team is unparalleled.

Available and Shipping

CableFree E-Band MMW Links are available today with up to 10Gbps per radio aggregating to 40Gbps full duplex capacity.

For Further Information

Please Contact Us

E-band MMW Licensing in the UK by OFCOM

E-band Regulation in the UK by OFCOM

On Dec. 16 2013, Ofcom—the UK telecom regulator—announced a new approach for the use of E-band wireless communications in the United Kingdom.

To summarize, the new approach, which is available for licensing after Dec. 17, 2013, splits the band into two segments. Ofcom will coordinate the lower segment of 2GHz, while the upper segment of 2.5GHz will remain self-coordinated as per the prior policy.

The segment Ofcom coordinates will follow the usual regulatory processes for all the other fixed link bands it oversees. Moreover, OFCOM has already updated all the relevant documents and forms to accommodate E-band. While wireless vendors would have preferred the larger portion of spectrum to have been granted to the Ofcom-coordinated process, we welcome this new arrangement because it provides an option for greater security and peace of mind to operators in terms of protection from interference than was envisaged for the previous all self-coordinated spectrum regime.

Latest E-Band regulation by OFCOM

For a more detailed look at the new E-band arrangement, Figure 1 shows the Ofcom-coordinated section sitting in the lower half of both the 71-76GHz and 81-86GHz bands thus allowing for the deployment of FDD systems in line with ECC/REC(05)07.

CableFree MMW E-band OFCOM Allocation

Figure 1: Segmented Plan for Mixed Management Approach (click on figures to enlarge)

In terms of channelization within the Ofcom-coordinated block, the regulator announced that it would permit 8 x 250MHz channels, 4 x 500MHz channels, 1 x 750MHz channel and 1 x 1000MHz channel as per ECC/REC(05)07. Ofcom also stated that 62.5MHz and 125MHz channels will be implemented as soon as the relevant technical standards, etc., from ETSI are published. Figure 2 shows the Ofcom channel plan:

CableFree MMW OFCOM E-band Permitted Channelisations

Figure 2: Ofcom Permitted E-band Channelizations

Regarding equipment requirements, Ofcom stated that it will allow equipment that meets the appropriate sections of EN 302 217-2-2 and EN 302 217-4-2. This includes the antenna classes (e.g., classes 2-4) that will allow the deployment of solutions with flat panel antennas. We welcome this approach and hopes that other regulators—notably the FCC in terms of antenna requirements—currently considering opening up and/or revising their rules for E-band adopt similar approaches.

The license fees for the self-coordinated segment remains at £50 per link per annum, whereas in the Ofcom-coordinated segment the fees are bandwidth based as reflected in Figure 3:

Notwithstanding the current fees consultation process that Ofcom is undertaking, these “interim fees” will remain in place for five years, after which time the results of the fees review may mean that they will be amended.CableFree MMW E-band OFCOM Fees

Figure 3: Ofcom Bandwidth-based Fees

Also because of responses received during the consultation process, within the self-coordinated block, Ofcom will now require the following additional information for the self-coordination database: antenna polarization (horizontal, vertical or dual), ETSI Spectrum Efficiency Class and whether the link is TDD or FDD.

OFCOM MMW E-band Allocation