If your business uses more than one building, such as a yard with a separate office, a farm or a campus of units, you need a way to connect them. The two most common options are a point-to-point wireless link or a wired connection such as a leased line. They solve slightly different problems, and many sites end up using both.
What is point-to-point wireless?
A point-to-point link uses a pair of radio antennas, one on each building, pointed at each other to create a private network connection. It does not carry internet traffic from an ISP by itself; it extends your own network from one building to another.
- Needs: a clear line of sight between the two antennas, and somewhere secure to mount them.
- Frequencies: many links use licence-exempt bands such as 5 GHz or 60 GHz; longer or high-capacity links may use licensed spectrum, which needs its own licence.
- Weather: very high-frequency links (such as 60 GHz) work best over shorter distances and can be affected by heavy rain.
What is a leased line?
A leased line is a dedicated, uncontended fibre connection from a provider, with the same upload and download speed and a service level agreement for fixes. It connects your site to the internet or, as a private circuit, connects two of your sites together.
- Pros: very reliable, guaranteed speeds and repair times.
- Cons: installation can take weeks or longer, particularly if civil works or wayleaves are needed, and monthly costs are higher than broadband.
Which one when?
- Two buildings on the same site, with line of sight: point-to-point wireless is usually quicker and cheaper than digging a trench for cable.
- Buildings far apart or without line of sight: a wired private circuit, or separate internet connections at each site with a VPN.
- Main internet connection for a busy office: a leased line.
- Backup: a wireless link or a second broadband line can keep you running if the main connection fails.
Questions to ask before you choose
- Is there clear line of sight, and is anything likely to grow or be built in the way?
- Do we have permission from the landlord to mount equipment?
- What speed do we really need between the buildings, now and in five years?
- How quickly would we need a fault fixed?
- Will we need power and network cabling at each antenna location?
When to speak to BMT
We survey, install and support point-to-point wireless links and help businesses choose the right business connectivity. Inside each building, structured cabling ties it all together. Call us on 0161 672 7461 or 01706 391 047, or get in touch online.
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