Sometimes Only Lasers Or Satellites Will Work

Computerworld - Satellite may be the only alternative for last-mile connections in really remote areas.

For example, the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, is deploying satellite technology from StarBand Communications Inc. in McLean, Va., to connect schools, libraries and municipalities in remote areas of the state. For both StarBand and the university, it's a test to see how well satellite networks—with downlink speeds of 300K to 500K bit/sec. and uplink speeds of 60K to 150K bit/sec.—perform in the harsh Alaskan climate.

Mike Sfraga, director of program development at the university, says many parts of the state don't even have dial-up connections, and those that do offer woefully slow Internet access. "It's not practical to dig trenches and bury fiber in ground that has been frozen for eons," Sfraga says. He notes that most remote sites are more than willing to put up with latency of about 650 milliseconds in return for wireless connectivity with some respectable bandwidth.

There's wireless bandwidth aplenty for TV and radio station operator Fisher Communications Inc. in Seattle. Fisher's CIO, Larry Ice, says he chose a 100M bit/sec. through-the-air laser connection from Terabeam Corp. in Kirkland, Wash., to link office buildings. Terabeam's laser ring in Seattle bounces from building to building, creating a metropolitan-area network in the air. It eliminates the hassles of gaining building access for optical fiber, Ice says.

Laser transceivers are placed behind building windows and hook directly into Fisher's LAN. "The system has been up and running for 60 days without issue," says Ice.

— James Cope