A Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) in a remote area of Colorado successfully broke the Gigabit barrier on a 4.2-mile (6.7 km) link, reaching 915 Mbps downlink and 935 Mbps uplink. By deploying NetPoint MLO NP6W-DP-2FT antennas combined with Cambium Force 4600C radios, the operator not only sextupled its previous capacity (150 Mbps), but also outperformed the value proposition of local fiber optic competitors, adding 7 new subscribers in its first week of operation.
In Colorado's competitive rural and semi-remote telecommunications market, WISPs face the rapid expansion of fiber optic infrastructure.
The local operator relied on a traditional 5 GHz network delivering a maximum bandwidth of 150 Mbps. This bottleneck prevented them from offering high-speed corporate or residential plans, creating a risk of customer churn to fiber providers.
To compete effectively, the WISP required:
A point-to-point (PTP) link across 6.7 km (4.2 miles) capable of delivering near-symmetric 1 Gbps speeds.
High immunity to noise and local interference.
Efficient capital expenditure with a fast return on investment (ROI).
After an initial unsuccessful trial with an integrated Wave MLO6 unit, the engineering team opted for a decoupled approach offering higher performance and radio frequency isolation.
Link Architecture:
Antennas: NetPoint MLO NP6W-DP-2FT (2-foot dish designed for wideband multi-link operation).
Radios: Cambium Networks Force 4600C.
Distance: 4.2 Miles / 6.7 Kilometers.
The NetPoint MLO series provided the alignment precision and gain stability required to consistently maintain peak modulations across the link.
Results Achieved
Network Performance:
Downlink Speed: 915 Mbps
Uplink Speed: 935 Mbps
Total Aggregated Capacity: ~1.85 Gbps real-world throughput in the field.
Business Impact
The Gigabit capacity enabled the WISP to immediately launch high-value service plans:
7 new subscribers signed in the first week following deployment.
Rapid CAPEX recovery through key client retention and the acquisition of new enterprise users.
Brand positioning as the leading provider of ultra-high-speed connectivity in the region.
"With NetPoint MLO antennas, we achieved performance that many thought was only possible with fiber optics or Tarana. The 4.2-mile link operates with the stability and speed our customers demanded."
