1. Where Does Wireless Fit Into Your Strategy?
Chris Konechne, Project Engineer
Finley Engineering
Chris Konechne
(507)

2. Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company
Company History
1907 Established cooperative with 107 members
1958 Upgraded to dial telephone service
1973 Private lines introduced
1985 Digital Switching
All Fiber Optic Network
Chris Konechne
(507)
Chris Konechne
(507)

3. Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company
2010 – FTTH Buildout Customers 2015 – First fixed wireless deployment – 100 wireless customers 2016 – Wireless coverage expands 2017 – Nobles County Fiber and Wireless Project begins construction. Over 2,000 new passings added
Chris Konechne
(507)

4. What is fixed wireless broadband?
High speed broadband services utilizing radio waves instead of copper or fiber optic connections.
Not mobile or satellite
2 major architectures types
Point-to-Multipoint (PTMP)
Point-to-Point (PTP)
PTMP
PTP
Chris Konechne
(507)

5. Technological Improvements in Wireless
Movement towards standards based tech such as LTE and WiFi.
Lower prices, faster improvements
Not locked into one manufacturer
Interference Mitigation = Better Spectral Efficiency
Software
Beamforming
MIMO
Multiple In Multiple Out
Chris Konechne
(507)

6. What is 5G?
5G is an evolution of the Radio Access Network (RAN) through the application of software and hardware developments to create the next generation fixed and mobile wireless network
Key performance targets:
High Speed - 20Gbps downlink / 10Gbps uplink
High Density - 1 million devices / km2
Mobile
Energy Efficient
Low Latency - <1ms
Chris Konechne
(507)

7. What is 5G? Specified by the yet to be released ITU standard, IMT-2020
We define 5G by a combination of:
Draft specifications
Use case scenarios driving innovation
Technologies behind the new networks
5G networks will include:
Enhanced network architectures
New antenna capabilities
New licensed and unlicensed spectrums for 5G
Higher speeds and capacity
Low Latency
Release 15 RAN Approved 12/20/2017
Release 16 due yet this summer
Chris Konechne
(507)

8. Keys to a Successful Wireless Network
Cell Density
Spectrum Selection
Spectral Efficiency
Backhaul
Chris Konechne
(507)

9. Potential Throughput Distance & LOS Frequency
Selecting a Frequency Band
C=B⋅log2(1+S/N) bits/sec
ΔωΔt≳2π
f(t) and a>1
g(t)=f(t/a)
g~(ω)=∫g(t)eiωtdt=∫f(t/a)eiωtdt=a∫f(τ)eiaωtdτ=af~(aω)
Potential Throughput
Distance & LOS
Frequency
Broadband Radio Service-MMDS Educational Broadband Service
Chris Konechne
(507)

10. Selecting a Frequency Band
Decide if a licensed or unlicensed spectrum will be used.
Cost
Noise
Level of Service
Time to Deploy
Chris Konechne
(507)

11. Selecting a Frequency Band
Unlicensed Frequency Bands
Unlicensed Bands
900Mhz (low bandwidth availability has limited the use of this band)
2.4 Ghz
5.8 Ghz
Licensed Bands
2.5 Ghz
3.65 Ghz
Coming Soon
5G – millimeter wavelengths
TV White Space
Chris Konechne
(507)

12. CBRS – Citizens Broadband Radio System
LTE Based
Ghz, 150Mhz of new spectrum
Spectrum Allocation Service (SAS) will dictate spectrum usage for all
3 levels of access
Incumbent – Military, Government, protected by Priority Access License (PAL)
Priority – Spectrum Blocks awarded by auction to highest bidder per census tract
General – No license required, some regulation
Hwang, Y (2017, June 9) What is CBRS? Retrieved from
Chris Konechne
(507)

13. Ways to Deploy Towers Water Towers Grain Elevators Small Cells
Rooftops
Suburban
Chris Konechne
(507)

14. Strategies
Acquire customers in unserved areas outside of existing service territory.
Increase revenue from existing assets.
Retain customers inside existing service territory.
Increase level of service, redundant feeds.
Chris Konechne
(507)

15. Identify Project Resources
Execution
Define Target Area
Identify Project Resources
Preliminary Plan
Propagation Study
Evaluate
Refine Plan
Implement Plan
Chris Konechne
(507)

16. Challenges to implementing wireless networks
Line of sight or near line of sight required (LOS, NLOS).
Terrain/Topography
Interference Levels
Subscriber Density
Antenna locations, build v. lease?
Training
Reliability, has improved but not as good as fiber in most cases
Aesthetics
Chris Konechne
(507)

17. What to expect
A fiber fed wireless network can be 3-5x cheaper than a fiber network in rural areas.
Speeds of 25Mbps and beyond can be achieved within a 6 mile radius.
Weather generally does not affect operation.
Equipment Lifespan 5-7 years
Backhaul Options
Fiber
Licensed Wireless
Unlicensed Wireless
Chris Konechne
(507)

18. Case Study
Rural carrier has dark fiber at existing cell tower outside of their existing service territory. They want to acquire new customers that don’t have access to broadband speeds above 10/1Mbps.
Lease space is available on the tower for $700/yr.
Low population density
5Ghz unlicensed network
Terrain suitable for wireless network propagation study looks promising
Chris Konechne
(507)

19. Case Study Total Project Cost $97,800 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4
Install Antennas & Equipment
$24,000
Tower Lease
$4,200
$8,400
Customer Equipment and Turn-up
$400/customer (assume 10 initial & 1/wk, 36 subs)
$400/customer (36 new subs)
$400/customer
(12 new subs)
(6 new subs)
Annual Costs
$42,600
$22,800
$13,200
$10,800
Total Project Cost $97,800
Chris Konechne
(507)

20. Case Study Assumes average revenue of $60/customer/month
Chris Konechne
(507)

21. Finley Engineering Company
Thank you!
Finley Engineering Company
Chris Konechne
(507)