07 August 2024

Asuburban area of Johannesburg, South Africa was constructed as a housing solution for the low-income population. However, despite its residential structures, Cosmo City significantly lacked essential infrastructure – primarily, stable internet connectivity.

To achieve dependable and affordable last mile internet delivery in the neighbourhood, a novel system was planned without traditional extensive infrastructure like cables, and without high costs for the users.

Last mile mesh
Meshmerize was selected to tap into fibre connectivity available at local hubs like sports bars or schools, which, in combination with directed antennas, enabled the establishment of long-range connections in a very narrow, directed manner between specific points, spanning up to 20km. To cover the local area, Meshmerize stepped in with the mesh network.

The solution was specifically designed as a last-mile wireless broadband design tailored for high-density low-to-middle income communities. By leveraging a novel and patented radio antenna wireless system, it can provide high-speed internet to both fixed and mobile users living in densely populated residential areas.

The antennas are meticulously optimised for both outdoor and indoor router connectivity without necessitating an externally mounted CPE. They possess a flexible mechanical tilt feature, allowing adjustments between 0° and ±15°. Additionally, users can rotate the antennas anywhere from 0° to 360°, offering extensive coverage customisation.

Powering the network is a low-profile WiFi access node that operates on solar energy, backed by a robust lithium-ion phosphate battery. This battery stands out for its quick recharge capability, ensuring that the system remains operational for over four days even in the absence of direct sunlight. Complementing this is a dedicated power unit embedded with a control board, engineered specifically for autonomous remote solar management, ensuring consistent performance and minimal manual intervention.

Once the directed antenna brings the internet connection to a central location, the actual distribution within the community is handled by mesh access points. Each sector of the neighbourhood (comprising 40-50 houses) is covered by around 10 of these mesh access points. A total of 180 access points were installed to cover the sectors.

Self-healing architecture
The solution’s self-healing and decentralised nature today brings the internet to each of the neighbourhood users.

Unlike traditional methods that require extensive planning and infrastructure, mesh networks can be deployed rapidly, adapting to unforeseen challenges on the go. Planning is super flexible, as the devices can be placed without relying on a single, unique location. This solves potential problems that would occur with building infrastructure changes or lack of approval from homeowners to have the devices placed on their homes.

Moreover, even if an access point faces disruptions, the mesh design ensures that data finds an alternate path, guaranteeing uninterrupted service. This resilience comes especially useful in cases of environmental issues such as strong winds or other circumstances that might damage the hardware.

The Cosmo City deployment has proven to be about 40-50% cheaper than fibre-based solutions; since cables don’t have to lead to every doorstep and not every house has to have networking hardware, internet access for the provider and the end user is more affordable.

The mesh network management tool Hive plays a pivotal role in overseeing the vast mesh network, ensuring consistent configuration across hundreds of nodes. This centralised management system is instrumental in allocating different channels to various parts of the network, significantly reducing interference and ensuring smooth data transmission. With Hive’s oversight, potential issues can be proactively identified and addressed, guaranteeing that the network maintains its high-performance standards.

Power outages and irregular electricity supply are common woes in areas like Cosmo City, however, Meshmerize’s system is designed to be independent of the power grid, ensuring constant connectivity regardless of external power fluctuations. Solar panels found on each of the access points, equipped with a lithium battery, ensures this self-sustenance. Additionally, utilising solar power eliminates the need for any cables in its network infrastructure, which means that the common concerns of cable damage due to construction or other activities are entirely bypassed. A cable-free network ensures a consistent and unbroken connection, reducing vulnerabilities and maintenance needs, and further exemplifying the robustness and adaptability of the network.

The system is designed so that local residents - with minimal training - can perform basic maintenance tasks, ensuring the network’s upkeep without the need for specialised personnel. Empowering locals to partake in the maintenance fosters community involvement and creates a win-win situation where local maintainers receive benefits like free internet for their contributions.

The big picture
Beyond residential areas like this one, the potential of mesh in last mile delivery projects is vast. It can be a game-changer in rural regions, disaster-struck zones where infrastructure is compromised, temporary setups like events or festivals, and even in dense urban settings where laying additional infrastructure is either costly or impractical.