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Mesh Radio
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Introduction
Mesh Radio is a new Broadband Fixed Wireless Access architecture
that avoids the limitations of point to multi-point systems.
A series of point-topoint links are set up between nodes mounted on
customers homes, avoiding the cost of conventional base stations.

The use of directional antennas reduces the power requirements and

increases spectrum efficiency.

Networks grow to meet demand and can achieve a higher penetration

over a larger geographic area than other systems.
Mesh Radio could provide a platform for residential broadband that
is practical in suburban and semi-rural areas if small, low cost nodes
can be implemented.

It would therefore give significant economic benefits in any country

that implements it.

 Mesh Radio is a new approach to Broadband Fixed Wireless Access

(BFWA) that avoids the limitations of point to multi-point delivery.
It could provide a cheaper 3rd Way to implement residential
broadband that is also independent of any existing network operator
or service provider.
Instead of connecting each subscriber individually to a central
provider, each is linked to several other subscribers nearby by lowpower radio transmitters; these in turn are connected to others,
forming a network, or mesh, of radio interconnections that at some
point links back to the central transmitter
Mesh networks may involve either fixed or mobile devices.

The principle is similar to the way packets go around the Internet,

data will hop from one device to another until it reaches its
destination.

Dynamic routing capabilities included in each device allow this to

happen

Point to Point Topology

The most basic broadband wireless architecture consists of two
buildings connected directly to one another through a point-to-point
(PtP) communications link.

For situations where long-distance links are required, a PtP

architecture may be the best solution.

When highly directional antennas are used, PtP links of 25 miles or

more may be achieved with unlicensed broadband wireless
equipment.
A PtP topology will also typically provide the highest data rates
because the available bandwidth doesn't need to be shared by more
than two buildings.

A simple PtP link can also function as a reliable backup, where a

wired connection already exists between buildings
Although a PtP topology may be the right choice for small projects, it does
not scale as well as other network topologies

Point to Multipoint Topology

 A point-to-multipoint topology (PtMP) allows multiple remote

buildings to share a connection back to a single, central building,
commonly referred to as a base station.
PtMP installations scale more easily than PtP because as new
buildings are added to the network, no additional equipment or
modifications are required at the base station.

It is a requirement that each remote location have a clear LOS to the

base station, so by itself, a PtMP network will not scale infinitely.

Coverage of buildings over a wide geographic area, or an area with

especially hilly terrain, may require a combination of multiple base
stations with PtP links used as a backbone to interconnect the
different PtMP networks

In addition to potential LOS problems, when traffic loads are heavy,

multiple remote sites can attempt to simultaneously transmit
information to the base station.
Commonly referred to as "hidden transmitter interference," this
causes interference to each transmission and slows down the
broadband wireless network for everyone connected

Mesh Topology
Mesh topology networks, sometimes referred to as peer-to-peer or
multipoint-to-multipoint, offer significant benefits over PtP and PtMP
topologies.
In addition to being the most flexible broadband wireless topology,
mesh technology: (1) enables network expansion; (2) provides a selfhealing architecture; (3) reduces implementation and operating costs;
and (4) facilitates mobile applications.

Taxonomy of Sorts for Mesh Radio

Dynamic/self-organizing/adaptive or static/deterministic
Infrastructure, client or hybrid
Fixed or mobile

Mesh Radio Architecture

 Trunk Network Connection Points (TNCPs) link the radio access

Mesh to the trunk communications network.

Each of the TNCPs will serve a number (typically 3or 4) of Mesh

Insertion Points.

These consist of a standard Customer Node (CN),which can set up

connections to other customers, and equipment for multiplexing the
signals to and from that customer node onto a link to the TNCP
A Customer Node is installed at each customers premises.
It not only provides service for that customer but also handles transit
traffic from other customers.
It consists of an outdoor radio unit and an indoor service presentation
unit that provides the interface between the Mesh and the customers
computer and phone systems
The Mesh will also include a number of Seed Nodes (SNs).
These are the same as the customer Nodes except that there are no
customers connected to them

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mesh

Radio
Fewer central stations, Non-line-of-sight

NLOS configurations are easy to build out of meshes, so the

linear nature of radio propagation isn't really a factor in meshes
of any size.

Reliability is improved just because the network is structured as a

mesh

No need for "high Sites":

Mesh Radio offers excellent coverage without requiring
the use of "high sites."
It is no longer necessary to deploy network connection
points on the highest buildings or hilltops

 Minimum upfront network investment for deployment

With traditional fixed wireless systems, coverage, even to a
few subscribers, depends on installing a significant number of
base stations, so that an operator is faced with high initial
costs when network revenues are lowest.
With Mesh Radio new customers can be connected with a
very low density of deployed 'seed' nodes, which provide
initial coverage
Robustness:
Mesh is more robust than single-hop networks because it is
not dependent on the performance of one node for its
operation
In mesh network architecture, if the nearest AP is down or
there is localized interference, the network will continue to
operate; data will simply be routed along an alternate path

Fault-tolerance, Self-healing architecture

Meshes are very adaptable to failures in nodes or dropouts in radio
coverage - traffic is simply re-routed dynamically.
Each mesh node is aware of the primary optimal path, the secondary
path, and every tertiary path a packet may follow to reach its
intended destination

Higher bandwidth:
One way to get more bandwidth out of the network, is to
transmit data across multiple short hops.
That's what a mesh network does.
Additionally, because little power is required to transmit data
over short distances, a mesh network can support higher
bandwidth overall despite FCC regulations that limit
maximum transmission power.

 Spatial reuse:
Spatial reuse is another benefit of mesh over single-hop networks.
As noted earlier, in a single-hop network, devices must share an AP.

If several devices attempt to access the network at once, a virtual

traffic jam occurs and the system slows

Spectrally efficient:
Mesh radio is also far more spectrally efficient than point to
multi-point systems, because the 'narrow' beams are much
less likely to interfere with each other.
The spectrum can therefore be re-used over and over in any
area
This means that, in any given spectrum allocation, up to ten
times as many customers can be served at the same data rate
compared with point to multi-point

Adaptive backhaul provisioning:

One of the best features of a Mesh Radio is the lack of the
requirement to provide a wired backhaul connection to
every node.

Rather, user traffic is relayed over the air between nodes

until it reaches its destination or a node with a connection
to another network (like the Internet).

Thus, one could deploy, for example, a Wi-Fi mesh to

provide service over a large geographic area, but only very
limited backhaul initially

Power:
The substrate nodes of a mesh network can be built with
extremely low power requirements, meaning that they can
be deployed as completely autonomous units with solar,
wind, or hydro power.

Other Advantages

Integration

Reality fit

Network Expansion

Time-bounded behavior

Security

Conclusion

Mesh Radio has significant benefits compared with PMP systems

which come about through the use of directional antennas to set up
a series of point-to-point links between nodes on customers homes

Mesh Radio could provide a 3rd platform for residential broadband

to compete with cable and ADSL in urban areas that is also
practical in suburban and semi-rural areas.

Mesh Radio is completely new and it can be introduced

independently of any existing network or operator

The UK Government is keen to role out BFWA and the

Radiocoms Agency is consulting on the use of the 40GHz band

Even if it takes longer Mesh Radio will eventually happen and

companies that stand to gain from its introduction should start to
actively support its development.

References

IEEE Wireless Communications,Oct 2003,Vol 10, No.5

IEEE Microwave Magazine,Vol 2,No 2,June 2001
IEEE Spectrum,June 2002
New Scientist Magazine,Nov 2001
www.meshradio.co.uk

www.radiantnetworks.com

www.broadcastapers.com

www.broadbandmag.co.uk

www.itti.com

www.seminarsonly.com

Thank You