Working outside the cities.
WHAT THE SITUATION IS
Fibre is concentrated in urban areas, and coverage thins quickly outside them.
WHAT OPTIONS TYPICALLY REMAIN
Mobile data, with an external antenna Fixed wireless, where a provider has a tower in range Satellite
WHAT TO ASSESS FIRST
Mobile signal strength at the exact location, on each network.
HOW
Test on site, at different times.
WHAT AN EXTERNAL ANTENNA ACHIEVES
Usable service from a signal that a phone cannot hold.
WHAT IT REQUIRES
Correct type, mounted high, aimed at the tower.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
Where the nearest tower is, and in which direction.
WHAT FIXED WIRELESS REQUIRES
Line of sight to the provider's tower.
WHAT BLOCKS IT
Terrain, trees and buildings.
WHAT TO ASK THE PROVIDER
Whether a survey is done before commitment.
WHAT SATELLITE PROVIDES HERE
The most predictable option, independent of terrestrial coverage.
WHAT TO PLAN FOR
Power, which is frequently as much a constraint as connectivity.
WHY THEY INTERACT
Connectivity equipment is useless without power, and remote sites have less of both.
WHAT TO SIZE
Backup power for the connectivity equipment specifically.
WHAT TO CONSIDER
Working in a way that tolerates interruption.
WHAT THAT MEANS
Local working with periodic synchronisation, rather than continuously connected systems.
