08 Nov 2017

CCS’ self-organising microwave backhaul to be used in London’s Square Mile

Cambridge Communication Systems (CCS) Limited has today (9 November) announced that its Metnet solution has been selected to provide neutral host backhaul for a new, ultra-fast wireless network being deployed to serve the businesses, residents and visitors of the Square Mile in London

The new wireless network includes a combination of Wi-Fi for free public access – now live – and 4G small cells, available to carry traffic for all UK MNOs. Small cells and Wi-Fi access points are being deployed on street furniture including lampposts, street signs, and CCTV columns, to improve wireless coverage and capacity in the heart of London’s financial centre.

The neutral host backhaul of the Wi-Fi and small cells network is built on CCS Metnet – which the company claims is the “world’s only self-organising 5G microwave backhaul – operating in the licensed area-based 28GHz band”. Fibre will also be deployed at strategic points to aggregate the traffic from the Metnet nodes – which are described as being small and discreet – for connectivity into the Wi-Fi and small cell core networks. Metnet was selected as the backhaul backbone having satisfied all the key requirements for deployment in a dense urban area for neutral host Wi-Fi and small cell connectivity.