Wireless broadband has been traditionally used for backhauling massive amounts of data over dedicated wireless links, with wireless paths often spanning over tens (if not hundreds) of miles.

Broadband has alson been extensively used not only to provide large data pipes, but also as a fail-over backup (for their primary data pipes) by many medium to large-scale businesses.

Whereas setting up wired broadband links for providing high-bandwidth connectivity between corporate buildings, university campuses, and business locations has historically been an expensive option; wireless broadband is now being increasingly considered as one of the most cost-effective ways (no need to dig up trenches, run bundles of wires underground, right of way issues, etc.) to ensuring uninterrupted network connectivity.

Considering that most Telcos route their traffic using a few shared fiber bundles, the true redundancy that one can possibly get by buying datapipes through different LECs/CLEC or private vendors is not really that good –in the event of a major fiber-cut, it is quite likely that several carriers will get affected at the same time. Wireless broadband, therefore, is now being increasingly being deployed to provide a more reliable/redundant data transit.

Possible options for implementing a data link for broadband access include:

• Wireless Broadband using Licensed Radio Frequencies
  
• Wireless Broadband using Unlicensed Radio Frequencies
  
• Wireline Broadband provisioned by Carriers
  
• Wireline Broadband using Cable TV Network,
  
• Unconventional Wireline Broadband -using Power Grid Carrier, etc.
  
• Privately provisioned Broadband Links
  
• Wireless Broadband links provisioned/maintained by Carriers
  
• Wireless Broadband using Satellites
  
• Wireless Broadband using unconventional (Airships/Blimps/Aircrafts hovering over a target area, Laser, etc.) provisioning options.

The aforementioned provisioning options are usually narrowed down by user requirements such as: Data transfer rates needed, whether or not links are to be used for mission critical applications, degree of redundancy needed, QoS requirements, Latency issues, Geographical and Climate related issues, availability (or lack thereof) of wireless broadband solutions from (CLECs, LECs, and private/dark fiber network) carriers, roof access/restrictions, line of sight issues, as well as initial and operating costs involved.