Business Aspects of FibeAir IP-20C Introduction FibeAir IP-20C constitutes a breakthrough in capacity and cost-effectiveness in microwave communications bestowing significant competitive advantages on mobile network operators who deploy it. While its innovative technologies and their benefits are well documented 1, the IP-20C endows mobile and other network operators with considerable revenue enhancement opportunities and very significant reductions in total cost of ownership. As the first MultiCore radio in the industry, it signifies the dawn of the MultiCore processing era in microwave communications, similar to the recent transition of the mobile device industry from single-core CPUs to MultiCore SoCs which enable higher processing power while consuming less energy. 1 Technical briefs on MultiCore technology and LoS MIMO can be found on Ceragon s website 1
Real gigabit throughput at a fraction of the cost of fiber Microwave technology is shifting to MultiCore architectures employing a parallel radio processing engine for multiple RF carriers. The breakthrough FibeAir IP-20C MultiCore radio exploits this technology to enable wireless Virtual Fiber connectivity, transmitting a full 1Gbps of radio throughput in a single box, without any traffic manipulations - meaning committed capacity. IP-20C as alternative to fiber - Capacity This quantum leap to gigabit capacities in microwave disrupts the relationship between microwave and fiber, making microwave radio a viable solution for multi-gigabit connectivity at a fraction of the cost of trenching and deploying fiber. IP-20C as alternative to fiber Redundant Fiber Overlays Protection of critical sites, such as high-capacity aggregation sites, from service unavailability due to fiber cuts is made simple with FibeAir IP-20C, scaling gigabit capacities and serving as a reliable-yet-compact and low-cost contingency for fiber. 2
Eliminate Site Visits FibeAir IP-20C is future-proof as it is ready for upgrade from 1+0 to 2+0 (doubling the capacity) from day one. Activating the second transceiver is also done remotely and does not require a site visit (which can amount to thousands of dollars per visit). The procedure simply requires upgrading the radio s capacity license and remotely activating the second core (working in XPIC or obtaining another frequency channel). There is no disruption of service during the upgrade and subscribers/users enjoy an uninterrupted high quality-of-experience (QoE). This is dramatically different than competing product upgrades, which require costly site-visits, tedious coordination of maintenance windows, significant downtime and inflated footprint. 3
Dramatically Reduce Installation and Operation Costs From the moment of installation, IP-20C reduces the operator s TCO. Its innovative mediation devices save 15% of the CAPEX on installation materials, and its MultiCore engine allows for reduction of antenna size by up to 50%, saving up to 50% of antenna-related CAPEX and up to 70% of tower leasing fees, while its all-outdoor architecture eliminates need for indoor footprint (real estate and HVAC). After installation, configuring and upgrading the link is performed simply and remotely and additional site visits are unnecessary - an optimal solution for operators who will need high capacity but want to avoid paying for it upfront. Interference issues which may arise do not require a site visit either. An integrated spectrum analyzer records and sends any interference events for analysis and resolution at the NOC. FibeAir IP-20C s MultiCore architecture cuts power consumption by half, which translates into similar savings in energy-related OPEX. An integrated Carrier Ethernet switch means that a single IP-20C unit can implement a variety of network topologies: linear, tree and ring (east-west) topologies, as well as MultiCore 2+0 and XPIC configurations. No additional switch or demarcation device (NID) is needed, thus eliminating external equipment cost and footprint requirements. In addition, the switching hardware in the FibeAir IP-20C is fully programmable and thus ready for any improvement or shift in future protocols (e.g., MPLS-TP). 4
More than 50% savings in spectrum licensing fees and shifting to less congested bands FibeAir IP-20C can be deployed in 4x4 MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output) configuration enabling 4 signals over the same spectrum. A clear economic benefit of using MIMO technology is the significant savings in frequency licensing fees. While a microwave link with 4X4 MIMO requires the installation of two antennas and two FibeAir IP-20C units at each site, the amount of spectrum required for the same capacity is cut by more than half. Thus the operator can license less than half the bandwidth and will save on spectrum licensing fees year after year. The immense value of MIMO technology is stretched even further, as capacity upgrades utilizing the same exact channel save planning time and complexity. Until now, shifting from the congested, expensive, low-frequency bands to higher frequencies incurs a penalty in link budget rendering this shift impossible in most cases. However, with FibeAir IP-20C s MIMO and MultiCore radio technology, the link enjoys a system-gain boost that more than compensates for the loss in link budget incurred by moving to higher frequencies. For example, a link that requires the expensive and frequently congested 6GHz band can now be implemented in the less expensive and less congested 11GHz band using the same channel bandwidth. Ongoing spectrum licensing fees can be cut by as much as 25% from the shift from 6 GHz to 11 GHz. 5
One time investment - scale capacity with the same future-proof hardware and installation Using just a single FibeAir IP-20C unit and Ceragon s custom-developed mediation devices, capacity upgrades can be implemented simply with the same unit. As mentioned, upgrade from 1+0 to 2+0 is done remotely, without any additional installation, while adding a second FibeAir IP-20C unit enables upgrade to 4x4 MIMO configuration, without altering original installation. All of the aforementioned configurations can be implemented either in single polarization or XPIC. 6
New business models and revenue streams Hierarchical QoS (H-QoS), as implemented in FibeAir IP-20C, supports a higher granularity of traffic management than with standard QoS, giving the operator greater flexibility in pricing structures and service agreements. With H-QoS, operators can give each service tailored treatment and strict SLAs instead of having to adhere to a limited amount of service profiles (usually 8 profiles in classic QoS). It allows for higher rates of over-subscription and efficient network utilization, significantly cutting the amount of spare network bandwidth in the planning stage. H-QoS provides TDM-grade performance, with full visibility and control per service. Summary It all results in lower TCO Ceragon s MultiCore radio technology sets a new standard in microwave transmission delivering multi- Gbps anywhere. FibeAir IP-20C confers numerous competitive advantages to network operators: FibeAir IP-20C provides more capacity over single or multiple channels than any other microwave radio solution, allowing operators to implement microwave as a wireless virtual fiber for many more applications than ever before. 7
Software programmable, the properties of the FibeAir IP-20C can be adjusted remotely as networks evolve. Furthermore, activation of additional transceivers is also done remotely thus saving the considerable expense of site visits throughout the equipment s long life. Its versatile configuration options allow for simple capacity and network topology upgrades with the existing install-base. FibeAir IP-20C s small size and low weight allow it to be implemented in less costly and easier-toaccess locations. Its low power consumption, all-outdoor architecture and integrated L2 switching functionality make it the lowest cost to operate microwave equipment in the industry. MIMO technology enables better utilization of precious spectrum resources (quadruple the capacity over a given channel) as well as deployment in less expensive frequency bands and with smaller antennas. Its ability to deliver personalized services opens up myriad options for new business models and revenue streams. About Ceragon Networks Ltd. Ceragon Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ: CRNT) is the #1 wireless backhaul specialist. We provide innovative, flexible and cost-effective wireless backhaul and fronthaul solutions that enable mobile operators and other wired/wireless service providers to deliver 2G/3G, 4G/LTE and other broadband services to their subscribers. Ceragon s high-capacity, solutions use microwave technology to transfer voice and data traffic while maximizing bandwidth efficiency, to deliver more capacity over longer distances under any deployment scenario. Based on our extensive global experience, Ceragon delivers turnkey solutions that support service provider profitability at every stage of the network lifecycle enabling faster time to revenue, cost-effective operation and simple migration to all-ip networks. As the demand for data pushes the need for ever-increasing capacity, Ceragon is committed to serve the market with unmatched technology and innovation, ensuring effective solutions for the evolving needs of the marketplace. Our solutions are deployed by more than 430 service providers in over 130 countries. Join the discussion 8