WISP & Outages: The Hidden Cost of Low Cost Networks

Customer satisfaction is critical to any WISP. This is why WISPs & outages are like oil & water. With increased expectations for always-on connectivity from anywhere, WISPs need superior reliability to eliminate outages & maximize uptime. When both are in play, they balance customer satisfaction & control costs, increasing profitability.

Increase Profits

The best way to prevent outages as a WISP is to invest in the right equipment. The right equipment minimizes the risk of equipment failure or the need for costly repair dispatches. Low-cost networks can be tempting based on their price tag. However, they are considerably less reliable, not only in hardware but in message delivery. Both of which reduce customer satisfaction while increasing operational costs.

Increase Customer Satisfaction

Preventable outages are a WISP’s worst nightmare. Outside of affecting a customer’s perception of the service, it can seriously affect business. Compromised service tests subscriber loyalty. It is not hard for customers to switch service providers. The switch is inexpensive for consumers. Turnover is a reality. When Service Providers reduce outages, they keep their customers loyal. Increased customer loyalty & an atmosphere of goodwill leads to a larger customer base. Happy customers & more customers equate to higher & more stable profits.

Increase Uptime

When WISPs consider reliability when investing in a network because when outages do occur, there are often a lot of hidden costs outside of the downtime & service impact to customers. For this reason, outages can lead to unacceptably high maintenance & operations costs.

Consider the following…

Accordingly, the cost of a typical installation—or swapping out—involving a tower climb can be significant.  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that three technicians be at each tower climb.  Since an average tower climb takes approximately two hours, each at approximately $85 per man-hour, the average cost of a climb can be upwards of $510 total.  When you also factor in the costs of travel and vehicle dispatch for the day, you can pay about $100 per dispatch for labor and a vehicle per each dispatch.  For instance, in an eight-hour, four-person dispatch day, that’s over $2,400 in one day, which is significant.  It all adds up pretty quickly.

Cambium Networks

Since most low-cost equipment has an inability to stand up to outdoor use, it inevitably leads to more outages. These outages increase trouble calls and lead to more dispatches. Cambium Networks PTP series is a proven Point-to-Point series solution. Cambium Networks PTP products are deployed worldwide. They serve highly critical applications in formidable environments for the world’s most demanding users. The PTP series offers best-in-class, real-world performance. The products in the PTP series can lead to reductions in the hidden costs associated with outages.

All things considered, a single outage can wipe out a WISPs savings from purchasing lower-priced equipment. Isn’t the investment in Cambium Network’s reliable PTP series worth that savings in the long run?