Overview
When it was time to submit data to the FCC to prove that connectivity was available in their area, Ayera used cnHeat to simplify the process of submitting their Broadband Data Collection (BDC) reporting.
Ayera Technologies, Inc., a rapidly growing WISP based in Central California, has nearly tripled their subscriber count over the past four years. When it was time to submit data to the FCC to prove that connectivity was available in their area, Ayera sought a solution that would simplify the process of submitting their Broadband Data Collection (BDC) reporting.
Challenge
AYERA HAS APPROXIMATELY 8,500 SUBSCRIBERS in Central California—a mix of residential and business, both rural and urban, serviced using a mix of licensed and unlicensed frequencies. The service provider already uses Cambium Networks equipment in their network, primarily for CBRS, utilizing their Priority Access Licenses (PALs) licenses won at auction in 2020.
Like other WISPs, Ayera only had until September 1 to submit using the FCC’s new, more extensive BDC data formats. However, the list of locations that had to be verified in their sizable operating footprint was nearly 1 million addresses, a daunting and insurmountable task in such a short time period.
Solution
AFTER DISCOVERING CAMBIUM NETWORKS’ cnHeat, Ayera was able to load their sites and antenna details quickly and accurately, and cnHeat generated an extremely precise geographic shape file that could be used in lieu of validating individual addresses. Since cnHeat uses detailed LiDAR data, accurate to 1-meter resolution, the generated shape provided a highly accurate representation of their service footprint that is both defendable and demonstrable to the FCC if the need arises.
The added benefit of being able to use cnHeat for rooftop-level analysis by their customer service reps also means that Ayera’s daily customer signups can be quickly and accurately pre-qualified, minimizing costly truck rolls to unserviceable addresses. Ayera’s technicians also benefit by being able to quickly target the specific portions of the building or property that will give the best signal, resulting in much more rapid, higher-quality installs.
A third, and equally important benefit of cnHeat, is being able to use it in a planning capacity. Since Ayera is undergoing an aggressive expansion, both in density as well as geographic footprint, cnHeat provides critical insight into identifying new potential repeater sites, giving them rapid answers to “what-if” scenarios that will streamline the expansion of their network.
Results
FOR THE BDC DATA, AYERA WAS ABLE TO quickly load their data into cnHeat and get the accurate output they needed, despite never having used the tool before. Within two weeks, and with outstanding support from the cnHeat team, they were able to submit their report on time and with confidence in the accuracy of the data.
In parallel to the BDC reporting, Ayera also rolled cnHeat into its customer provisioning and installation processes, resulting in a monumental increase in efficiency and accuracy in identifying customers who could and could not be served. Ayera has always had a very positive reputation in their service territory, owed to using best practices such as using reliable, carrier-grade equipment, building out highly redundant fiber and RF backhaul paths between their repeater nodes, and not placing potential customers on their network that have problematic signal levels.
By integrating cnHeat into their back-end systems and processes, they are continuing their commitments to maintain that excellent reputation.