Micro Radio Wave in SDH

Although in principle the optical fiber has become the medium of choice for long-haul transmission as well as from the standpoint of its capacity, SDH microwave radio is still required by many network planners. Main reason is related to economic issues, speeds deployment and security.
Economically, the SDH radio provides the most economical solution for network planners if the existing infrastructure (eg towers, shelters, power-plant and antenna feeder systems) that already exist can be used again when the permission through an area is already owned first. Also areas that do not match the terrain (like mountains or buildings across the water / dam) to make deployment of fiber is very expensive. The consideration is that for the implementation of a fiber network, the largest initial capital expenditure for intalasi fiber cables, which nature does not depend on its capacity.
The results of a joint economic study conducted by Northern Telecom (Nortel) and Stentor (an alliance of companies in the Canadian telephone operator), which aims to determine the design of the most cost-effective transmission network for installation along the 2000 km route, which is based on the required capacity and conditions -field conditions, showed that for the difficult environmental conditions, the radio is more cost effective for capacity up to 2.5 Gbps (equivalent to 16 x STM-1). For environmental conditions that are not heavy terrain, fiber networks become more cost effective for larger capacity than the 310 Mbps (equivalent to 2 x STM-1). Based on these studies, Stentor can optimize its design along the 6500 km network of large capacity synchronous Trans Canadian economically with the spread either through fiber or radio.
It should be noted here is that the comparative study of costs is based on fiber routes and the radio is single. However to meet the objectives of the availability of long-haul nature of the ITU-T, a dual route (dual) fiber (which means difersitas route) is required, which are generally to compensate for shrinkage / reduction of the cable, which occurs on average two to three times per year per route along the 1000 km. Please note that in designing telecommunication networks there is always a term of degradation / decrease in work quality cable and a variety of equipment due to aging, not least in the optical fiber. Each cutting wires can require up to 12 hours to repair. Compared with the routes of long-haul radios that can be designed for 99.98 percent availability for distances up to 6500 km, which if converted into less than two hours of down time per year by using a single route. Therefore, if the study is intended for comparison of single radio route versus multiple fiber routes, which provide the same availability of the network, the radio will have an advantage in terms of costs even in a larger capacity and the environmental conditions mentioned above.
In terms of speed of deployment, SDH radio offers a more rapid deployment and generate more income faster than the fiber, especially when the existing infrastructure can be reused.
Consequently, the practical deployment strategy for network planners is to spread the SDH radio network at first. Then, when the revenue / income for the company have been obtained, and capacity needed to rise, a fiber route and then propagated to obtain the various routes and network media and to put fiber to the higher capacity that are potential (approximately 10 Gbps) if desirable and possible.
In terms of security, the radio network, which consists of radio Sheltered site within every 40 to 60 km, is easier to secure than the fiber network. Fiber networks is more difficult to secure because the entire fiber route must be protected from various kinds of natural disturbances and nosy hands.