Wireless mesh in demand in Southeast Asia

Wireless mesh, the multipoint-to-multipoint network configuration is in demand in Southeast Asia. Two key factors driving this demand include the need for greater bandwidth in areas where wireless infrastructure is not well-established, and the relative easy and inexpensive deployment of a mesh system in comparison to laying fiber optics.

According to Jeremy Koh, VP of Sales in APAC at Firetide, a wireless mesh system is particularly preferred as an alternative to wired applications in city surveillance, manufacturing plants, and government agencies where private broadband communication is desired for the transmission and storage of extensive amounts of high definition video data from surveillance.

For example, Firetide's mesh technology was used by the Makati City CCTV Network Project to deliver real-time traffic condition video feed from the 115 HD cameras connected to the command center, allowing for quick reaction to any incident or alleviation of traffic congestion to be carried out.

One challenge for mesh network business expansion in the region is that many local integrators still choose lower cost point-to-point (PTP) or point-to-multipoint (PTMP) options without clearly understanding the pitfalls when it comes to supporting IP video traffic.

Demonstrating to local integrators through success stories and by showing which wireless solution is most suitable for them is crucial because it is very important to implement a right system from the start to avoid unnecessary maintenance. “Every re-visit to an outdoor location or accessing a lamp pole means potentially a non-profitable project,” said Koh.

Mesh networks are also greatly used in mobile surveillance, such as monitoring buses, trains, and subways because it can withstand disruptions such as single-point failure and obstacles along line-of-sight.