Engineering and compromise – microwave links for ultra-low latency

This guest blog was provided by Communication Infrastructure Corporation.

Designing microwave links for Ultra-Low Latency requires a different thought process and therefore a different set of steps than designing microwave for other telecommunications purposes. While the equipment is different, so is the engineering approach. Network reliability, Throughput and Latency become the levers that must be understood in order to design a proper Ultra-Low Latency Link. Moving one lever often negatively  impacts the others. Ultra-Low Latency is a function of understanding those levers, how they interact with each other and striking the right balance that matches your low latency strategy. Selection of equipment is just as critical as the techniques employed, and goes hand in hand with the design strategy employed.

Other factors come into play in the design process such as available sites, frequency congestion and terrain that also play into the design strategy to employ. Not understanding how these factors effect each other can cause the designer to develop a sub-optimal system that does not perform as desired. For example, one might assume that using the fewest number of sites is the best way to design an ultra-low latency network. However, it has been shown multiple times that a network with more sites between the same two endpoints can be significantly faster than a network between the same endpoints with fewer sites. But a network with more sites will cost more to build and operate, therefore a balance must be struck.

All of the technical factors must also be balanced with real world circumstances such as the terrain and the available sites and sites costs. The real world circumstances more often than not work against the objectives of designing the best possible network. Knowing when to compromise and when not to requires experience and skill. Selecting a supplier that understand the nuances of each of these factors will directly impact your success of developing the ultimate Ultra-Low Latency microwave network.

Communication Infrastructure Corporation is a silver sponsor of The Trading Show Chicago. Marty Snyder, President and CEO of Communication Infrastructure Corporation, will be participating in a panel session at the event on the topic “Innovations in network and connectivity – discovering the next generation of fastest and most efficient trading routes.”