W&M 2009 – Building cost-efficient next generation microwave backhaul networks
Microwave Networks - gov.alaska.gov
Transcript of Microwave Networks - gov.alaska.gov
Microwave Networks
AP&T’s experience developing, constructing and operating a microwave network in rural southeast Alaska
Who is AP&T?
Alaska Power & Telephone• Established in Alaska 1957
• We are employee‐owned energy utility and telecommunications provider.
• We are traded over‐the counter “APTL”
Energy• We operate microgrids in rural and remote areas of Alaska.
• Distribution, Transmission and Generation
• We plan, construct and operate all aspects of an electrical system. 80%+ of our energy comes from renewable resources primarily hydro.
• Most recent project was Hiilangaay on Price of Wales Island.
• https://vimeo.com/363431514/cd873345b0
Telecom• Local exchange carrier providing voice services. (LEC)
• Broadband providing service over fiber, copper and wireless.
• Transport service provider offering backhaul to customers over microwave and fiber.
• We named our microwave network SAMN (pronounced Salmon)
SAMN –Southeast Alaska
Microwave Network
How did SAMN Start?
• Purchase of Communications Unlimited in early 90’s. They owned a few mountain to sites near KTN and Prince of Wales Island. The dream was to eventually build a network in SE Alaska similar to Alascom’s network at the time.
• As Internet service began to evolve (dial up) the means to provide internet required connecting communities to the world through transport (middle mile) facilities.
• Transport costs increased as demand increased and we saw skyrocketing demand. This holds true today.
• Multiple surveys of network routes (1999 and 2005) and the increased costs of transport created an environment that the high construction costs outweighed the fees paid to other for transport. This fixed our costs of transport for the short term.
• The pieces fell into place as we applied for and were awarded a community connect grant to bring service to Kasaan on POW.
What were the development challenges?
• Internal cost benefit analysis• Selling the idea to our Board of Directors
• Funding• Acquiring the debt funding from our secured lenders• At the time we were in a Chapter 11 workout plan.• Managing a Community Connect grant from RUS.
• Site acquisition• Site surveys and managing the process of acquiring a Forest Service
land a special use permit. We had approximately 14 remote sites in various land use locations. Each Ranger District is different (then) and the process was unique in each one.
• Frequency acquisition and coordination• We use licensed frequencies which are also used by other carriers.
Initially there was a limited supply of available frequencies.
What were the development challenges? –Site Design –Example Taku Mountain
What construction challenges were encountered?
EngineeringTowersWind and Ice load.Structure Design and layoutEnergy generation and storageNetwork Design
LogisticsBarges for materialHelicopters for transport (material and personnel)Crew lodging onsite.Tents, meal prep, sanitation.
Site ConditionsLimited geological assessment at onset so bedrock was difficult to determine.Extreme weather conditions at elevation in SE Alaska.Curiosity about Alaska jobs by the general public.
Construction
Construction
What operational challenges occur?
• Typically microwave has a lower cost to install than fiber but operational costs are a significant burden.
• Fuel cost and fueling primary concern.• Generation maintenance costs
• Weather and weather related damages• Wind, Ice, oh my.
• Equipment monitoring• Batteries• Diesel gensets• Dishes, dish covers, ice shields, wave guides
• Network monitoring• Physical layer – Radios• Network layer – data throughput, packet loss, security,
• Technological changes• Details discussed in a different section.
Fuel Costs
‘ Fuel Costs Delivered (not including labor)
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020Total Cost $280,097 $297,163 $288,264 $288,264 $226,225Total Gallons Delivered 57,065 55,138 42,577 42,577 35,504 Average Price Per Gallon $4.91 $5.39 $6.67 $6.77 $6.67
Cost per MB of Capacity per Year 215.46$ 228.59$ 221.74$ 221.74$ 174.02$ Cost per MB of Capacity per Month 17.95$ 19.05$ 18.48$ 18.48$ 14.50$
Operations
Technology evolution.
MG1
Capacity limits and performance
• Transport capacity is based on the location because there may be issues with licensed spectrum.
Latency – 10ms (fiber may be a couple ms faster)Jitter – typically less than 1msOriginal Capacity – OC‐3 (155M – Who talks TDM anymore?)Current Upgraded capacity ~ 3gbps
Traffic flow – bottleneck can occur, solving them can take some ingenuity.Dropping traffic to other transport providers can provide relief of traffic bottlenecks.
Future?
• Microwave is not dead. It can be useful and, in some situations, cost effective.
• Microwave can be an excellent redundant path (typically telecom infrastructure is built to be 99.999% reliable ~ 5 minutes 30 seconds annually).
• Ultimately fiber transport can provide very low latency, jitter and is a superior method of transport. Fiber can resolve capacity shortages and operational cost issues but has significant increased cost to install.
• Fiber is a topic for another day!