Wireless Internet & Broadband Technologies

Wireless Internet-Based Broadband

• Wireless tech utilizes the unlicensed radio spectrum for sending and receiving data
• Anyone with a wireless router and compatible technology can use the unlicensed spectrum
• Earlier wireless access was limited by the local transmission range, typically within 100 feet of a wireless router with a wired internet connection

Municipal Wi-Fi

• Many cities are establishing municipal wireless networks
• Some municipal networks offer high-speed internet access for free or at a reduced cost
• Some are intended for city use, enabling remote work for police, fire departments, and other city employees
• To connect, subscribers need a wireless modem with a stronger radio and directional antenna
• Service providers often offer the equipment for free or for a fee, similar to DSL or cable modems

Cellular Service

• Another wireless WAN tech option used to connect users and remote locations lacking alternative WAN access tech
• Smartphones and tablets can use cellular data for email, web browsing, app downloads, and video streaming
• Phones, tablets, laptops, and even routers communicate to the internet using cellular tech
• Devices use radio waves to communicate through nearby mobile phone towers
• Devices have small radio antennas while providers have larger antennas

Wireless Standards

• 3G/4G/5G are abbreviations for mobile wireless technologies generations
• 3G, 4G, and 5G support wireless internet access
• 4G standards bandwidths can reach up to 450 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload speeds
• 5G standards can support 100 Mbps to 10 Gbps and beyond

Long-Term Evolution (LTE)

• A newer, faster tech and part of the fourth generation (4G) tech

Satellite Internet

• Typically used by rural or remote users where cable and DSL options are unavailable
• Access requires a satellite dish, two modems (uplink and downlink), and coaxial cables between the dish and modem
• Signals travel about 35,786 kilometers (22,236 miles) to the satellite and back
• A clear view toward the equator is a installation requirement, where satellites orbit
• Trees and heavy rains can impact signal reception
• Satellite internet provides two-way data communications, with download speeds ranging from 5 Mbps to 25 Mbps and upload speeds being about one-tenth of the download speed

WiMAX

• Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) is a new tech
• Described in IEEE standard 802.16
• It provides high-speed broadband service with wireless access and broad coverage
• Offers broader coverage similar to cell phone networks, unlike small Wi-Fi hotspots
• Works similarly to Wi-Fi but at higher speeds, over greater distances, and for more users, using WiMAX towers
• Access requires a subscription to an ISP with a WiMAX tower within 30 miles, a WiMAX receiver, and an encryption code
• WiMAX has been largely replaced by LTE for mobile access and cable or DSL for fixed access

VPN Technology

• Security risks arise when teleworkers or remote office workers use broadband to access the corporate WAN over the internet
• Broadband services offer Virtual Private Networks (VPN) to address these security concerns
• The network device accepting VPN connections is typically at the corporate site

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

• VPN is an encrypted connection between private networks over a public network like the internet
• Instead of leased lines, VPNs use virtual connections called VPN tunnels
• VPN tunnels route through the internet from the private network to the remote site or employee host

Benefits of Using VPN

• Cost savings: organizations can use the global internet to connect remote sites and users, eliminating WAN links
• Security: enhanced with encryption and authentication protocols that protect data from unauthorized access
• Scalability: VPNs use existing internet, making it easier to add new corporate users without significant infrastructure changes
• Compatibility: VPN tech works with broadband like DSL and cable, allowing remote workers to access corporate networks via high-speed internet

Common VPN Implementations

• Site-to-site VPN: VPN settings are configured on routers, so clients are unaware of data encryption
• Remote access: initiates remote access connection. For example, using HTTPS or VPN client software with authentication

ISP Connectivity options

• Single-homed: Used if internet access is not crucial, client connects to ISP using one link - It offers no redundancy and is the least expensive option
• Dual-homed: Used if internet access is crucial, client connects to same ISP using two links - Its offers redundancy and load balancing, but the organization loses connectivity if the ISP experiences an outage
• Multihomed: Client connects to two different ISPs - It offer redundancy and load balancing, but it can be expensive
• Dual-multihomed: The client connects with redundant links to multiple ISPs - It is the most resilient and expensive option

Broadband Solution Comparison Factors

• Fiber-to-the-Home: Requires direct fiber installation
• Cable: Bandwidth is shared, resulting in slow upstream data rates with over-subscription
• DSL: Bandwidth is distance-sensitive with a lower upload rate
• Cellular/Mobile: Coverage and limited bandwidth are often an issue
• Municipal Wi-Fi: Viable if mesh network is available and in range
• Satellite: Expensive, limited capacity, used when no other option available

Virtual Private Network

• Organizations use VPNs to secure traffic between sites and users, creating end-to-end private network connections
• A VPN is virtual carrying information within a private network but transported over a public network
• Encryption to keep the data confidential

Cisco Security and VPNs

• A Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) firewall can provide secure, high-performance connectivity, including VPNs, for remote branches and mobile users
• SOHO (small office home office) can utilize a VPN-enabled router for VPN connectivity back to corporate

General VPN Benefits

• Increased ability for an established client-based VPN connection with the main site, using AnyConnect
• Modern VPNs provide encryption features for secure network traffic between sites (IPsec,SSL)
• Cost-effective, broadband enable cost-effective remote connection bandwidth, lowering connectivity costs
• The most security available, with encryption and authentication to protect data from unauthorized access
• Scalability is easy because VPN allows internet usage, without costly infrastructure
• Compatibility VPNs work with WAN links and broadband: Remote workers using Broadband advantage