Facebook's introduction of terrestrial connectivity systems, Terragraph and Project ARIES date back to 2016, in its bid to make the 60GHz millimeter-wave wireless technology a potential replacement for fiber broadband.

Terragraph leverages technology created to manage Facebook's massive data center infrastructure, with an implementation of IPv6-only nodes, SDN-like cloud compute controller, and a new modular routing protocol for fast route convergence and failure detection.

It incorporates attributes and industrial design required for fast, attractive, and affordable deployment across cityscapes, which makes it a potential replacement for fiber or cable in the homes and businesses, as it eliminates the need to rip up streets and sidewalks.

Now, Facebook has set a time frame of 2019, as when the first terrestrial connectivity technology will be tested.



The trial will be based on a technology called 802.11ay, which is the successor to 802.11ad, which is generally considered to be a wireless backhaul technology, providing the so-called “last mile” connectivity to the home.

Facebook had quipped in February, that two field trials have been planned: in Budapest, Hungary, and in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Albeit, actual replacement of existing wired infrastructure with a wireless technology has been attempted before, like Intel’s grand WiMAX plans that scored a deployment or two in the United Kingdom.

But the foreseen problems, are perhaps the fact that 802.11ay signals travel short distances, about 33 to 100 feet, which means that numerous “small cells” would need to be around the neighborhood, and 5G eventual deployment may render the technology irrelevant.

Facebook's terrestrial connectivity system (Terragraph) billed for 2019 trial

Facebook's introduction of terrestrial connectivity systems, Terragraph and Project ARIES date back to 2016, in its bid to make the 60GHz millimeter-wave wireless technology a potential replacement for fiber broadband.

Terragraph leverages technology created to manage Facebook's massive data center infrastructure, with an implementation of IPv6-only nodes, SDN-like cloud compute controller, and a new modular routing protocol for fast route convergence and failure detection.

It incorporates attributes and industrial design required for fast, attractive, and affordable deployment across cityscapes, which makes it a potential replacement for fiber or cable in the homes and businesses, as it eliminates the need to rip up streets and sidewalks.

Now, Facebook has set a time frame of 2019, as when the first terrestrial connectivity technology will be tested.



The trial will be based on a technology called 802.11ay, which is the successor to 802.11ad, which is generally considered to be a wireless backhaul technology, providing the so-called “last mile” connectivity to the home.

Facebook had quipped in February, that two field trials have been planned: in Budapest, Hungary, and in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Albeit, actual replacement of existing wired infrastructure with a wireless technology has been attempted before, like Intel’s grand WiMAX plans that scored a deployment or two in the United Kingdom.

But the foreseen problems, are perhaps the fact that 802.11ay signals travel short distances, about 33 to 100 feet, which means that numerous “small cells” would need to be around the neighborhood, and 5G eventual deployment may render the technology irrelevant.

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