Load-shedding provides wireless ISPs a competitive advantage over cellular networks Says expert

Wireless Internet service providers (Wisps) have a particular edge over mobile network operators due to Eskom’s rotating power interruptions (MNOs).

According to Paul Colmer, a member of the Wireless Access Providers’ Association’s executive management committee, Wisp network equipment uses a quarter of the power that carrier-grade cellular equipment does.

“There is a new sheriff in town, and his name is Eskom. Load-shedding has caused havoc on the cellular networks as they were designed with hybrid grid and battery power to facilitate their operation with very power-hungry equipment,” Colmer said.

“Wisp networks using unlicensed spectrum, however, use equipment that only requires a fraction of the power of the carrier-grade cellular equipment.”

“Many Wisps went for the off-grid solar solution from the beginning, and Wisps running hybrid grid solar have managed to upgrade to off-grid at a fraction of the cost enabling them to stay up when cell towers begin to fail,” he added.

According to Colmer, sector LTE sites may consume up to 6kWh of electricity during a load-shedding session, with 5G sites using even more.

“The batteries just cannot keep up and recharge in time,” he said.

He referenced to Vodacom’s statement that it had spent roughly R2 billion in the last two years updating backup power systems at its towers, adding that the additional spending to combat load-shedding limits the amount of money MNOs can spend enhancing coverage.

“All MNOs will have to invest hugely [in backup power] moving forward,” Colmer said.

He said that MNOs aren’t the only ones facing the affects of load-shedding on their networks, with power outages affecting South Africa’s fibre optic infrastructure.

“It is not only the MNOs feeling the pain. Smaller outlying Telkom exchanges are going down with power issues [and it is] also affecting the fibre optic backhaul that feeds many FTTH networks in the smaller towns,” Colmer said.

“It’s the nature of SMME Wisps [to have the] agility in these troubled times to adapt and keep their networks up when others around them are struggling.”

Wisps and “carrier-grade” Wi-Fi in the Future

Wisps, according to Colmer, have a bright future in South Africa, owing to developments in wireless technology such as the global upgrade to Wi-Fi 6E.

“Wireless is back in a big way, and the Wisps are positioned to deliver these networks. It’s [an] exciting time to be a Wisp!” he said.

“Wi-Fi spectrum has been stuck for many years with the availability of only unlicensed bands in 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz; this, however, is all about to change!”

“Wi-Fi 6E is opening all over the world with an additional 1.2GHz of spectrum from 5.925 to 7.125GHz in [the] unlicensed band,” Colmer added.

He did, however, point out that Wi-Fi 6E is now only permitted for low-power indoor usage, but Colmer hopes it will be certified for outdoor use shortly.

“In South Africa, [industry regulator] ICASA has already drafted a notice to open the lower 6GHz band 5.925GHz to 6.425GHz for low-power indoor use,” he said.

“Outdoor use will be controlled by AFC (Automatic frequency Co-ordination) databases that will protect the incumbent users already in the band.”

Colmer believes that competition from cellular networks has benefitted wireless ISPs in South Africa.

“SA Wisps started out offering fixed wireless in areas that had no access to DSL or limited cellular coverage,” he said.

“As the cellular networks improved with speed and coverage, the Wisps were forced to upgrade their networks to be able to compete.”