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No cables, high bandwidth

With crime remaining one of South Africa’s key challenges, both communities and corporations across the country are set to continue investing in the very latest high-tech safety and security devices in the medium to long term.

“From maintaining integrated identity management systems to installing CCTV cameras across gated communities, security companies are finding themselves having to diversify their services, and becoming increasingly reliant on ISPs (Internet service providers) in order to deliver on their mandates,” says Nick Ehrke, sales director, Radwin Southern Africa. “This has made the role and function of wireless and other technologies critical in terms of guaranteeing the uptime required for various security applications.”

Ehrke noted that wireless in particular is catching the attention of both the local and international community in terms of enabling basic as well as more complex applications. “Because this technology in itself is very secure, and quick and easy to deploy, it’s ideally suited to security applications where robust, continuous transmission is required. One doesn’t need to dig up roads to lay copper or fibre or obtain municipal permission to establish a wireless network for example. It’s also able to overcome some of the challenges seen when using other technologies such as 3G or LTE, providing inherent support for high speed IP (Internet protocol).

“This makes it able to support the new generation IP-based high-quality security cameras on the market. We’re seeing many security companies increasing their own private networks using wireless as a result.”

With security all about instantaneous action and visibility, he explains that turnkey security and surveillance solutions can be designed using links that transmit video and data even from remote sites tens of kilometres away. “This enables customers to monitor remote buildings, equipment and livestock via continuous streaming, giving them complete peace of mind.”

Depending on the type of wireless equipment installed, these systems can then be used as either the primary or secondary (back-up) communications link of choice by the security company. If Telco grade wireless equipment is used, these systems can deliver the 99.999% uptime required for any security application, providing high throughput, quality video transmission and advanced network management capabilities.

Products like RADWIN’s 2000 D-series for example, can operate in both symmetric mode and in adaptive asymmetric mode. This allows capacity to be dynamically allocated between uplink and downlink based on traffic loads and air-interface conditions, including in near/non-line-of-site scenarios, interference-ridden environments and extreme temperatures.

With reliability and cost-effectiveness of systems crucial considerations for both security companies and the communities they protect, Ehrke believes that wireless will remain a compelling enabler the private spaces. “When it comes to security operations, equipment must perform flawlessly as required, when required. Much of this is, in turn, dependent on the technology supporting the system. As such, security companies and their clients need to carefully consider the functionality of the network technology in place, ensuring that it delivers when it’s needed most,” he concludes.

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