This guide is reviewed and maintained by the SureTel Network Engineering Team, with over 15 years of combined experience deploying microwave, fibre, and wireless connectivity solutions for South African businesses across manufacturing, logistics, education, and enterprise environments.
Last Updated: March 2026
What Is Microwave Internet?
Microwave internet is a type of licensed wireless connectivity that uses high-frequency radio signals to transmit data between two fixed points. Unlike standard wireless internet for business, microwave links are dedicated, highly stable, and specifically engineered for performance-critical environments.
Microwave connectivity is commonly deployed across South Africa for enterprise-grade applications where fibre internet is not available or where organisations require dedicated bandwidth guarantees that shared connections cannot provide.
The technology operates across licensed frequency bands — typically between 6 GHz and 42 GHz — ensuring interference-free transmission and regulatory protection for each link. This makes microwave one of the most reliable wireless technologies available for business connectivity.
Key characteristics of microwave internet include:
- Dedicated bandwidth — not shared with other users
- Licensed spectrum — protected from interference
- Low latency — typically under 5 milliseconds
- High availability — 99.99% uptime with proper engineering
- Symmetrical speeds — equal upload and download capacity
How Microwave Connectivity Works
Microwave links operate using point-to-point communication between two fixed locations. A directional radio signal is transmitted from one site to another using specialised antenna equipment mounted at elevated positions.
The process works as follows:
- Site survey — Engineers assess both locations for line of sight, tower availability, and interference potential.
- Spectrum licensing — A frequency band is licensed through ICASA (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa) to protect the link from interference.
- Equipment installation — Directional antennas and radios are installed at both endpoints, aligned precisely for maximum signal quality.
- Link commissioning — The link is tested, optimised, and commissioned for production traffic.
Key Components of a Microwave Link
| Component | Function |
|---|---|
| Transmission Towers | Installed at elevated positions (rooftops, masts, or dedicated towers) to maintain clear signal paths between sites |
| Directional Antennas | Highly focused parabolic antennas that transmit and receive signals directly between two points with minimal signal spread |
| Microwave Radios | Specialised radio transceivers that modulate and demodulate data signals at microwave frequencies |
| Line of Sight Path | A completely unobstructed path between the two endpoints — critical for reliable microwave transmission |
| Network Interface Equipment | Converts the microwave signal into standard Ethernet connectivity for the business LAN |
Point-to-Point vs Point-to-Multipoint
Wireless connectivity solutions can be categorised into two primary architectures. Understanding the difference is essential when evaluating microwave internet for business.
| Architecture | Description | Bandwidth | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point-to-Point (PtP) | Dedicated link between two sites with exclusive bandwidth | Dedicated | Enterprise connectivity, multi-site links, critical infrastructure |
| Point-to-Multipoint (PtMP) | Shared wireless network serving multiple sites from one base station | Shared | WISP networks, residential broadband, small business connectivity |
Microwave internet is typically deployed as point-to-point, meaning each business receives guaranteed, uncontended bandwidth. This is fundamentally different from shared wireless or standard broadband connections where performance varies based on network load.
Key Benefits of Microwave Internet
Dedicated Bandwidth
Unlike shared connections, microwave links provide guaranteed capacity that is not affected by other users on the network. This makes microwave ideal for applications that require consistent performance, including VoIP phone systems, video conferencing, and cloud applications.
Low Latency
Microwave connectivity typically delivers latency of under 5 milliseconds — comparable to or better than many fibre connections. This makes it ideal for:
- VoIP and cloud PBX systems
- Cloud-hosted business applications
- Real-time data transmission and SCADA systems
- Video surveillance and streaming
High Reliability
Licensed spectrum eliminates the interference problems that affect unlicensed wireless networks. When properly engineered, microwave links achieve 99.99% availability — making them suitable for mission-critical environments.
Long-Distance Connectivity
Microwave can connect locations separated by distances of 5 to 50+ kilometres, depending on frequency band, antenna size, and atmospheric conditions. This makes it particularly valuable for connecting remote sites, branch offices, and industrial locations.
Rapid Deployment
Compared to fibre installation — which can take weeks or months depending on civil works — microwave links can typically be deployed within 2 to 4 weeks once spectrum licensing is secured. This is significantly faster than trenching fibre to a new location.
Symmetrical Speeds
Microwave links provide equal upload and download speeds, which is critical for businesses that transfer large files, host services, or use cloud-based applications extensively.
Microwave vs Fibre vs Wireless vs LTE
Understanding how microwave compares to other connectivity technologies helps businesses make informed decisions. Each technology has specific strengths depending on location, requirements, and budget.
| Feature | Microwave | Fibre | Wireless (WISP) | LTE / 5G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth Type | Dedicated | Dedicated or Shared | Shared | Shared |
| Latency | Very Low (<5ms) | Very Low (<3ms) | Medium (10–30ms) | Medium (15–50ms) |
| Deployment Time | 2–4 weeks | 4–12 weeks | 1–2 weeks | Same day |
| Reliability | Very High (99.99%) | Very High (99.99%) | Good (99–99.5%) | Variable |
| Maximum Speed | Up to 10 Gbps | Up to 100 Gbps | Up to 500 Mbps | Up to 1 Gbps (5G) |
| Infrastructure Required | Tower / rooftop access | Physical cable | CPE antenna | SIM-based router |
| Cost | Higher | Medium–High | Medium | Low–Medium |
| Best For | Enterprise, multi-site, critical ops | Primary connectivity | Fibre alternative | Backup / mobility |
For a detailed comparison of all connectivity options, read our Fibre vs Wireless vs LTE comparison guide.
When Microwave Is the Best Solution
Microwave connectivity is the optimal choice when:
- Fibre installation is too slow, too expensive, or simply not available at the business location
- Businesses need to connect multiple sites (offices, warehouses, campuses) with dedicated links
- High-performance dedicated bandwidth is required for latency-sensitive applications
- Network redundancy is needed alongside an existing fibre connection for business continuity
- Organisations operate in industrial environments where trenching fibre is impractical
- Symmetrical upload and download speeds are required for cloud hosting or data replication
Common Business Use Cases
Multi-Site Connectivity
Microwave is one of the most effective technologies for connecting multiple business locations. Offices, warehouses, data centres, and retail locations can be linked with dedicated point-to-point connections — creating a private wide-area network (WAN) without relying on third-party infrastructure.
Industrial & Manufacturing Environments
Factories, processing plants, and mining operations frequently use microwave links to provide reliable connectivity for operational technology (OT) systems, CCTV surveillance, access control, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms.
Campus Networks
Universities, hospitals, and corporate campuses use microwave connectivity to link buildings within a campus environment. This eliminates the need for underground cabling between structures while maintaining enterprise-grade performance.
High-Availability Enterprise Networks
Businesses that depend on uninterrupted connectivity — such as financial services, healthcare providers, and call centres — use microwave links as part of their network redundancy strategy. A microwave link can serve as a diverse path when combined with fibre, ensuring connectivity even during cable cuts or infrastructure failures.
Temporary and Event Connectivity
Microwave links can be deployed for temporary high-capacity connectivity at construction sites, sporting events, conferences, and disaster recovery operations where permanent infrastructure is not available.
Microwave Internet Speeds Explained
Microwave link capacity varies depending on frequency band, modulation scheme, channel width, and distance. Modern microwave systems are capable of delivering substantial bandwidth.
| Frequency Band | Typical Speed Range | Maximum Distance | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6–11 GHz | 100 Mbps – 1 Gbps | 30–50 km | Long-distance backbone links |
| 15–23 GHz | 200 Mbps – 2 Gbps | 10–20 km | Metro and campus connectivity |
| 24–42 GHz | 500 Mbps – 5 Gbps | 3–10 km | Short-distance, high-capacity links |
| E-Band (70–80 GHz) | 1 Gbps – 10 Gbps | 1–5 km | Ultra-high-capacity urban links |
For guidance on how much bandwidth your business needs, read our business internet speed guide.
Microwave for Redundancy & Failover
Many enterprises use microwave links as part of a comprehensive network redundancy strategy. Because microwave operates independently of fibre infrastructure, it provides true path diversity — meaning a fibre cut will not affect the microwave connection.
Common redundancy configurations include:
- Fibre primary + Microwave backup — the most common enterprise configuration
- Microwave primary + LTE backup — used in locations without fibre
- Dual microwave links — using different paths or frequencies for maximum resilience
When combined with SD-WAN technology, failover between connections can be automated and near-instantaneous, ensuring zero-downtime operations for critical applications like VoIP phone systems and cloud PBX platforms.
Learn more about building resilient connectivity in our backup internet solutions guide.
Challenges of Microwave Connectivity
Line of Sight Requirements
Microwave links require a clear, unobstructed path between the two endpoints. Buildings, terrain, vegetation, and future construction can all affect viability. Professional site surveys and Fresnel zone calculations are essential before deployment.
Installation Complexity
Microwave deployment requires professional RF engineering, spectrum licensing through ICASA, structural assessments for tower or rooftop mounting, and precise antenna alignment. This is not a DIY technology — it requires experienced network engineers.
Higher Initial Costs
Equipment, installation, and spectrum licensing costs make microwave more expensive upfront compared to standard wireless internet or LTE connections. However, the total cost of ownership can be competitive when compared to leased fibre, particularly for multi-site connectivity.
Weather Sensitivity
At higher frequency bands (above 18 GHz), microwave links can experience signal degradation during heavy rainfall — known as rain fade. Engineers mitigate this through link budget calculations, adaptive modulation, and selecting appropriate frequency bands for the deployment distance.
Licensed vs Unlicensed Microwave
Understanding the difference between licensed and unlicensed spectrum is critical when evaluating microwave connectivity.
| Feature | Licensed Microwave | Unlicensed Wireless |
|---|---|---|
| Spectrum | Regulated and protected by ICASA | Public frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz) |
| Interference | Virtually none — frequency is exclusively assigned | Common — shared with many users and devices |
| Performance | Consistent and guaranteed | Variable — depends on local RF environment |
| Reliability | 99.99%+ availability achievable | 95–99% typical |
| Cost | Higher (spectrum fees + equipment) | Lower initial cost |
| Best For | Enterprise, mission-critical applications | Basic connectivity, cost-sensitive deployments |
Recommendation: Businesses requiring reliable, mission-critical connectivity should always prioritise licensed microwave solutions. The additional cost is justified by the performance guarantees and regulatory protection.
Microwave vs LTE / 5G
While both microwave and LTE/5G are wireless technologies, they serve fundamentally different purposes in business connectivity.
| Feature | Microwave | LTE / 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth | Dedicated | Shared |
| Performance | Consistent and guaranteed | Variable based on network load |
| Latency | Very Low (<5ms) | Medium (15–50ms) |
| Reliability | Very High (99.99%) | Moderate (depends on coverage) |
| Deployment | 2–4 weeks | Same day |
| Cost | Higher upfront, lower ongoing | Lower upfront, higher data costs |
| Best For | Critical infrastructure, enterprise WAN | Backup connectivity, mobility, temporary access |
Microwave is superior for critical infrastructure. LTE and 5G are better suited as backup or temporary solutions. Many businesses combine both — using microwave as the primary connection and LTE as the failover.
How to Choose a Microwave Provider
Selecting the right provider for business microwave connectivity requires evaluating several critical factors:
1. Network Design Expertise
Microwave deployment requires professional RF engineering. Look for providers with demonstrated experience in site surveys, link budget calculations, and spectrum planning.
2. Spectrum Licensing Capability
Your provider should manage the entire ICASA licensing process, including frequency coordination, interference analysis, and licence renewals. This ensures your link is legally protected and interference-free.
3. Support & SLA Guarantees
Enterprise microwave links should come with clear Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that guarantee uptime (typically 99.99%), define response times for faults, and include proactive monitoring.
4. Scalability
Your provider should be able to upgrade link capacity as your business grows — either by increasing channel width, improving modulation, or deploying additional links.
5. Integration with Other Services
The best providers offer microwave connectivity as part of a broader portfolio — including fibre, wireless, and LTE solutions — enabling hybrid connectivity strategies tailored to your specific requirements.
SureTel Microwave Connectivity Solutions
SureTel provides enterprise-grade microwave connectivity solutions designed for South African businesses that require dedicated, high-performance connectivity.
Our microwave solutions include:
- Licensed Point-to-Point Microwave Links — dedicated bandwidth between any two locations
- Multi-Site Connectivity — connecting offices, warehouses, campuses, and industrial sites
- Redundant Network Design — microwave combined with fibre or LTE for maximum resilience
- Hybrid Connectivity Solutions — integrated fibre, wireless, microwave, and LTE for comprehensive network design
- Managed Network Services — proactive monitoring, maintenance, and support
Whether you need to connect two buildings across the street or two sites across the province, SureTel's network engineering team will design, deploy, and manage a microwave solution tailored to your business.
Speak to a SureTel specialist to design a high-performance connectivity solution →
Further Reading
- The Ultimate Guide to Business Internet Solutions
- Fibre Internet for Business
- Wireless Internet for Business
- LTE & 5G Internet for Business
- How Much Internet Speed Does a Business Need
- Fibre vs Wireless vs LTE Comparison
- Backup Internet Solutions for Businesses
- How to Choose the Best Internet Provider