Public-safety organizations—ranging from emergency response to border security—rapidly are adopting new technologies to drive improved service levels and efficiency. LTE-based communications, high-definition video-surveillance systems and critical-infrastructure sensor networks—as well as a general increase in traffic between public-safety facilities—are all triggers for new IP-optimized backhaul solutions.

Faced with the need for high capacity, reliability and security (at the lowest cost per bit), many public-safety organizations are seeking new transport technologies to replace their legacy networks and enable next-generation applications. As the cost of deploying fiber reaches new heights—often exceeding the million-dollar mark per mile of trenching—continued innovation in microwave technology has enabled these point-to-point systems to deliver fiber-like performance at a small fraction of the cost.

This article examines the latest innovations that are improving the capacity, reliability, performance, management and cost-per-bit economics of microwave backhaul radios for public-safety applications.