Decathlon (deka-ten áthlon - contest in Greek) is an intense Olympic athletic contest where elite athletes compete in 10 different events for a single medal, including jumps, throws, four types of races, shot put, and pole vault.
To compete as a decathlon Olympic athlete, you need to be versatile, fast, and eager to break records.
Likewise, whether you are a tier 1 communications service provider (CSP), an internet service provider (ISP), or a private network navigating digital transformation to provide next-generation services—such as IoT monitoring for smart cities, smart metering for utilities, or expanded connectivity range for public safety—you need to be versatile, provide fast connectivity, and be scalable with the ability to increase your capacity exactly when and where it's needed most.
The rising demand for high-capacity communications is intensifying the pressure on network providers to deploy solutions that deliver and sustain high performance. At the same time, businesses are under pressure to cut costs while still providing outstanding service, necessitating cost-effective solutions that have a low total cost of ownership (TCO) and do not sacrifice performance. The competition is fierce.
With one of the market's largest installed bases of satisfied customers on our medal shelf, we fully understand these challenges. Every day, we put into practice our decades of experience along with our comprehensive catalog of innovative hardware, software, and professional services to help tier 1s, ISPs, and private networks meet increased capacity needs while reducing TCO.
Split-Mount Solutions for the Win
Split-mount microwave (MW) solutions are comprised of an indoor unit such as the IP-50GP and a radio such as RFU-SX. This “team” of hardware is the most popular type of MW link on the market (more than 70%) and is pivotal in advancing modern telecommunications infrastructure as we know it. Split-mount solutions offer significant maintenance advantages and enhanced troubleshooting capabilities. By separating the radio and indoor units, these solutions significantly facilitate network upgrades and scalability.
Split-mount MW radios also support a broad range of use cases, catering to the needs of mobile operators deploying a greenfield network, or expanding an existing one. They also address the high-capacity requirements of ISPs and private networks. These radios can easily serve as backhaul solutions for CSPs, ISPs, utilities, and public safety agencies.
The Triple-Threat: IP-50GP as a Cost-Effective, Cutting-Edge, Compact Indoor Unit
Just like an Olympic decathlon athlete, IP-50GP indoor possesses similar qualities: this super star radio provides fast connectivity, is super versatile, and breaks records with advanced market features.
IP-50GP is a cost-effective, cutting-edge, compact IDU—a flexible solution designed to elevate your network's performance. This indoor unit is engineered for any backhaul site, seamlessly integrating into both wired and wireless environments. Whether you're setting up a split-mount solution for a private network or ISP, the IP-50GP stands out with its compact, 1RU form factor, making it both lightweight and environmentally friendly. Its robust capabilities include edge/tail first and second aggregation, serving as a reliable standalone router that supports dynamic networking needs.
The integration of the CeraOS layer 2 switch ensures seamless data flow and connectivity, while the L1 aggregation, multiband, and deep buffer capabilities enhance data handling and performance. This innovative solution not only meets the demands of modern network infrastructures, but also sets the stage for future expansions, providing a reliable and efficient networking experience.
Just as a decathlon athlete showcases their skill and versatility in various sporting events, the IP-50GP has exceptional range too. In addition to supporting cost-effective, 1+0 configuration, it can support radio configurations of up to 8+0, with up to two directions (4+0 each) with single and dual radios in a direct radio connection such as RFU-D, RFU-D-HP, and RFU-SX. It can also perform as an IDU for all-outdoor solutions such as the IP-50CX, IP-100E, and IP-50EX families, ensuring maximal flexibility and adaptability.
Jumping Hurdles: Higher Availability & Capacity with Multiband
Multiband technology is crucial in microwave (MW) networks as it significantly enhances capacity, flexibility, and availability. By utilizing multiple frequency bands, networks can support higher data traffic volumes combining mmW and MW frequencies, which is essential given the increasing demand for high capacity and the lack of bandwidth in some microwave frequencies. Different frequency bands offer varying interference characteristics, allowing operators to optimize coverage for both densely populated areas and broader regions, leading to improved performance (29 Gbps multiband support) and reliability. They also offer cost efficiency by consolidating infrastructure using a single antenna and simplifying maintenance, while future-proofing the network by allowing upgrades without extensive overhauls. Overall, multiband technology is key to the performance and adaptability of modern telecommunications networks.
Interface Flexibility: More Valuable Than One Might Think
In addition to 10 GbE ports, IP-50GP supports 25 GbE interfaces, which have become crucial for microwave indoor units (IDUs), as they perfectly align with the evolving demands of modern mobile networks, particularly in the 5G era. These interfaces provide an ideal balance between cost and performance, offering sufficient capacity for current microwave channel requirements, while supporting future bandwidth growth. For IDUs, 25 GbE interfaces represent a more efficient solution compared to multiple 10 GbE ports or expensive 40 GbE interfaces, reducing complexity in cabling and power consumption while enabling effective traffic aggregation.
The technology is particularly valuable in supporting RAN disaggregation and flexible network deployments, making it essential for fronthaul/midhaul connectivity. As microwave backhaul systems continue to advance with features like channel bonding and carrier aggregation, 25 GbE interfaces provide the necessary headroom for these capabilities while maintaining a cost-effective infrastructure that can scale with network demands.
Layer 1 Aggregation for Better Data Efficiency
Just as a decathlete excels in ten different events, showcasing strength across various disciplines, L1 carrier aggregation performs similarly in the realm of microwave networks, with a proven record of offering significant advantages with smarter and efficient data engineering. At its core, this technology enables the combination of multiple carriers into several high-capacity channels, splitting traffic bit-by-bit, and enabling better data utilization as compared to LAG. This ultimately allows for enhanced throughput and better redundancy.
The Finish Line: IP-50GP Takes the Gold
The IP-50GP's diverse application portfolio demonstrates its value as a versatile networking solution. Whether deployed in mobile networks, private enterprises, or ISP environments, it delivers the performance, reliability, versatility, and scalability needed in modern networks. The combination of high-capacity and advanced features such as multiband, L1 aggregation, and flexible deployment options makes it a strategic choice for organizations looking to build robust, future-ready networks.
For more information on Ceragon's IP-50GP, download the Product Brief:
