To provide wireless, high speed internet access to densely populated areas, Mimosa Networks developed the new Micro Point-of-Presence (MicroPoP) network architecture. MicroPoP enables internet service providers to rapidly and economically offer internet access to new locations or underserved areas.

“Until now there hasn’t been a broadband solution that can be rapidly and cost-effectively deployed in urban densities and provide the high level of performance required to deliver next-generation internet applications,” said Jaime Fink, co-founder and the chief product officer at Mimosa. “The Mimosa MircoPoP architecture offers a unique opportunity for service providers of all sizes to reduce CapEx and deliver a scalable, high performance broadband network. They no longer have to dig trenches and try to bring cables underground, and can achieve the same speeds as fiber for a fraction of the cost.”

The MicroPoP multipoint architecture uses a new access point (A5) to stream to client devices (C5) using the 5 GHz band — anywhere from 4.9 to 6.2 GHz. The system can use 20, 40 or 80 MHz channels; most customers choose 80 MHz to maximize capacity.

The A5 access point, using quad-sector antennas and massive MIMO, is deployed at a central location within a neighborhood and provides wireless broadband connections to subscribers within 500 m. Each A5 access point can support data rates up to 1 Gbps and as many as 100 subscriber modules. In the typical deployment, service providers cover 30 to 40 subscriber modules from an access point, delivering 300 to 350 Mbps to each subscriber.

MicroPoP uses multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) to share the spectrum among the multiple clients on the same access point. The system uses a GPS sync-enabled time division multiple access (TDMA) protocol to eliminate the possibility of interference from neighboring access points and ensure that each client device receives and transmits under the timing control of the access point.

The A5 is compact to make installation fast, easy and discreet on rooftops or street-level furniture.

Sail Internet, a wireless service provider in the San Francisco Bay Area, deployed a MicroPoP network in Fremont, a large suburban community that was suffering from poor connectivity. Kevin Fisher, CEO at Sail Internet, said, “We were able to immediately compete with cable and phone providers in the area, offering dramatically better broadband speeds and network responsiveness. Customer satisfaction with our new broadband service has been off the charts!”

Mimosa Networks, founded in 2012, designs and manufactures outdoor gigabit wireless platforms using advanced Wi-Fi technology. The company has more than 2,000 customers in more than 80 countries.