What is Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS)?

Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) is a wireless communication technology designed for providing high-speed broadband access to subscribers within a specific geographic area. It operates in the microwave frequency range, typically utilizing frequencies in the 28 GHz to 31 GHz range. 

Dissecting Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS)

Conceived and developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, LMDS is a wireless broadband technology. Initial deployments commenced in the mid-1990s, with subsequent trials and commercial rollouts spanning the late 1990s and early 2000s.

LMDS addresses the need for high-speed broadband access in urban and suburban regions where traditional wired infrastructure is costly or logistically difficult to implement. It offers a cost-effective and swift solution for delivering broadband internet access, video services, and other data-intensive applications to both residential and business customers.

LMDS Use Cases

Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) has several use cases and applications in the field of telecommunications. Some key use cases of LMDS are:

• Last-Mile Broadband Access: LMDS can serve as a last-mile broadband access solution, especially in areas where deploying traditional wired infrastructure is cost-prohibitive or logistically challenging. Residential and business users can access high-speed internet services using LMDS, bridging the digital divide in underserved or remote areas.
• Urban and Suburban Connectivity: LMDS networks are well-suited for providing broadband services in densely populated urban and suburban areas. It can deliver high-capacity data and multimedia services to a large number of users within a localized coverage area.
• Business Connectivity: Businesses and enterprises can benefit from LMDS for dedicated and high-bandwidth connectivity. LMDS can be used to establish point-to-point or point-to-multipoint links for interconnecting multiple business locations, facilitating data transfer, video conferencing, and other data-intensive applications.
• Backhaul for Cellular Networks: LMDS is employed as a wireless backhaul solution in cellular networks. It connects cellular base stations (cell towers) to the core network infrastructure, enabling the seamless transfer of voice and data traffic. LMDS backhaul is particularly useful in areas where laying fiber optic cables is impractical or costly.
• Disaster Recovery and Temporary Connectivity: LMDS can be rapidly deployed to establish temporary connectivity in emergency or disaster recovery situations. It provides a quick and reliable means of restoring communication services when traditional infrastructure has been disrupted.
• Remote Monitoring and Surveillance: LMDS can support video surveillance and remote monitoring applications. It enables the transmission of high-quality video feeds from security cameras in urban areas, industrial facilities, or remote sites.
• Wireless ISPs (WISPs): Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) can use LMDS to extend their service coverage to customers in areas lacking wired broadband options. LMDS allows WISPs to offer high-speed internet access to subscribers without the need for extensive infrastructure investment.
• Educational Institutions and Campus Networks: LMDS can be used to provide high-speed connectivity within educational campuses, universities, and research institutions. It supports online learning, research collaboration, and data transfer for academic purposes.
• Temporary Events and Trade Shows: LMDS can be deployed to provide temporary wireless connectivity for events, trade shows, or festivals. It ensures that attendees and exhibitors have access to high-speed internet and other digital services during the event.
• Redundancy and Failover: Businesses and critical infrastructure facilities may use LMDS as a backup or failover solution to maintain connectivity in case of primary network failures. It offers a redundant communication path to ensure continuous operations.

How LMDS works

To enable LMDS to operate, it utilizes microwave radio signals in the millimeter-wave frequency range and establishes high-speed wireless communication links between a central base station (Central Node) and multiple subscriber units (Customer Premises Equipment - CPE) within a specific coverage area.

1. Central Node (Base Station): At the heart of the LMDS network is the Central Node, which serves as the central hub for communication. The Central Node is equipped with high-capacity transmitters and receivers, as well as directional antennas.
2. Subscriber Units (CPE): Subscriber units are installed at the premises of individual subscribers, including residential and business locations. Each subscriber unit is equipped with its own directional antenna, which is pointed toward the Central Node.
3. Line-of-Sight (LOS) Communication: LMDS relies on Line-of-Sight (LOS) communication, which means that there must be a clear, unobstructed line of sight between the Central Node's antenna and the subscriber unit's antenna. LOS communication is critical to ensuring the reliability and quality of the wireless link.
4. Data Transmission from Central Node to Subscriber Units: The Central Node transmits data in the form of microwave radio signals in the designated frequency band (typically in the 28 GHz to 31 GHz range). These signals are highly directional and are targeted towards the antennas of subscriber units that are within the coverage area and have established LOS links.
5. Subscriber Unit Reception: Subscriber units receive the microwave signals from the Central Node using their directional antennas. The signals are then demodulated and processed to extract the data.
6. Data Transmission from Subscriber Units to Central Node: In the upstream direction (from subscriber units to the Central Node), subscriber units transmit data by modulating their own microwave radio signals. These signals are sent back to the Central Node, where they are received, demodulated, and processed.
7. Duplexing and Time Division: LMDS networks often use Time Division Duplexing (TDD) or Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) techniques to manage the simultaneous transmission and reception of data. TDD allocates specific time slots for downstream and upstream data transmission, allowing the Central Node and subscriber units to take turns transmitting and receiving.
8. Network Management and Control: LMDS networks incorporate network management and control systems to monitor and optimize network performance. These systems may dynamically allocate resources, manage interference, and adjust transmission power to ensure quality of service.
9. Backhaul Connectivity (Optional): In some LMDS deployments, a backhaul connection may be established to connect the Central Node to the wider network infrastructure, such as the internet. This backhaul link can use fiber optic or microwave links to ensure that the LMDS network is connected to the core network resources.