SureTel
Protected spectrum path
The provider's licensed / coordinated spectrum is assigned for the link, so third-party co-channel interference from nearby unlicensed devices is not sharing that path.
Connectivity guide
What Is Microwave Internet?
Understand licensed microwave links before assessing connectivity for a difficult, remote or business-critical site.
- Licensed South African ISP
- Since 2010
- ICASA licence 0009/CECS/AUG/09
- South African business focus
- Endpoint ABusiness siteMounting, power, hand-off and access reviewed.
- Surveyed pathCoordinated spectrumRoute clearance and radio planning required.
- Endpoint BNetwork pointVerified endpoint, backhaul and installation logistics.
Answer first
Microwave internet, in plain English
Microwave internet is a fixed point-to-point connection that sends data by radio between surveyed locations instead of using a fibre cable. A licensed microwave link uses spectrum coordinated for that path, protecting it from third-party co-channel interference common on shared unlicensed bands. SureTel assesses the site, route and business requirement before recommending a design. Check coverage to start a feasibility review.
- Licensed spectrum is coordinated for the particular link rather than shared as an open unlicensed band.
- A link survey checks the route, mounting position, clearance, power and practical design.
- Microwave can be assessed where fibre is unavailable, delayed or unsuitable for the site.
- It may suit industrial, warehouse, remote and multi-site business requirements.
- Check coverage for a site-specific feasibility discussion.
Key clarification
A microwave link starts with feasibility, not a promise
Key clarification: Licensed Microwave must be surveyed and designed for the actual route. Spectrum coordination protects the link from third-party co-channel interference in the assigned path, but path clearance, mounting, equipment, power, weather considerations and local site conditions still need to be confirmed before suitability, installation timing or performance can be discussed.
Businesses usually investigate microwave after a location exposes a limitation: fibre is delayed, unlicensed wireless is crowded, or a remote site has no obvious fixed-line path. The useful question is whether a properly designed radio link can serve the site — not whether every microwave service is automatically identical.
| Business problem | What this guide clarifies |
|---|---|
| Fibre has not reached the premises or the build timing does not suit the project | A site-specific radio path may be assessed, including a bespoke design where feasible. It is not guaranteed before survey. |
| Shared unlicensed wireless is affected by nearby devices using the same band | Licensed spectrum is coordinated for the link, removing third-party co-channel contention from that assigned radio path. |
| The site is remote, industrial, elevated, spread out or difficult to reach with conventional infrastructure | Location and route conditions may make a fixed microwave design worth investigating. |
| Voice, cloud applications, cameras or operational systems are affected when connectivity is unreliable | Connectivity must be assessed in context with the LAN, Wi-Fi, power, endpoint setup and the relevant supplier boundary. |
| Suppliers are passing an incident around without useful updates | The buyer needs a clear contact for the SureTel-supplied solution and visible communication within the service scope. |
Why licensed spectrum matters
Four practical differences from shared unlicensed wireless
Both licensed and unlicensed links use radio equipment, but they operate under different spectrum arrangements. The difference is not a generic "better wireless" claim; it is about how the path is planned, coordinated and supported for a business connection.
Purpose-designed route
The link can be engineered around the surveyed path, mounting positions, clearance and capacity requirement rather than relying only on a broad shared access footprint.
Latency-sensitive use cases can be assessed
A fixed point-to-point design can be considered for business workloads that care about responsive connectivity. Confirm the actual application, path and design before making any performance statement.
Clearer fault domain and escalation path
A designed link gives the provider a more defined connection path to monitor and support. Support hours, SLA terms and restoration commitments remain contractual, not assumed.
This does not mean licensed microwave is automatically available, cheaper, higher-performing or more suitable than fibre at every address. It means the link is assessed as a controlled, site-specific connectivity path.
Designed path
What gets checked before a microwave link can be proposed
The value of a microwave link comes from the design work behind it. The feasibility process must examine both ends of the path and the business requirement, rather than treating a rooftop antenna as a universal answer.
- Business requirementUsers, applications, voice, cameras and operating hours.
- Site A surveyMounting option · power · internal hand-off · access.
- Path designRoute clearance · distance · radio planning · coordinated spectrum. Path design caveat: third-party co-channel interference is protected against on the licensed path; route clearance, equipment, alignment, weather considerations and power remain part of the feasibility review.
- Site B / network pointVerified endpoint · backhaul design · installation logistics.
- Commissioned connectionDocumented hand-off · monitoring and support scope.
Supporting checklist
- Exact service address and roof / mounting access.
- Existing connection and why it is not meeting the business need.
- Critical applications: VoIP, cloud tools, cameras, remote access, branch connectivity or other business systems.
- Required hand-off into the local network and any current router / firewall constraints.
- Power resilience and where responsibility starts and ends at the customer site.
- Timing, landlord / building permissions and any site-access limitations.
Price orientation
Start with a feasibility review, then price the design
Licensed Microwave is quoted only after the route and design requirements are understood. The public starting figure helps establish the category, but it does not replace feasibility, installation planning or a written proposal.
Orientation only — not a rate card
Licensed Microwave from R1,860 / month excl. VAT
Final pricing depends on feasibility, route design, equipment, installation requirements, contract terms, site access and confirmed service scope.
Typical lead time: 5–10 working days
Timing is subject to feasibility, access, design, equipment, permissions and installation scheduling. Not a guaranteed installation date.
All prices are shown excluding VAT unless stated otherwise. No rate calculator, instant quote or assumed installation date is offered on this page.
Where microwave may fit
Site situations worth assessing
Microwave is not a default replacement for every fibre line. It is most useful when the site itself creates a connectivity constraint and a controlled, fixed radio path may solve a practical deployment problem.
Illustrative
Warehouse or factory outside an easy fibre footprint
The provider can assess a radio path where a conventional build is unavailable, delayed or not economically practical.
Illustrative
Remote premises or rural-adjacent business site
A line-of-sight path to a suitable network point may be assessed where terrestrial access options are limited.
Illustrative
Multi-site operation with a difficult branch
One branch may require a different access technology from the rest of the business; the assessment should focus on that site's requirement.
Illustrative
Industrial estate with a fixed location and specialist needs
A purpose-designed fixed link may be considered for operational applications, subject to the actual site and service design.
Illustrative
New site opening with uncertain infrastructure timing
Microwave may be assessed as a practical path while the business evaluates permanent connectivity options. It should not be positioned as automatically temporary or automatically permanent.
Illustrative
Shared-band wireless contention concern
A licensed path removes third-party co-channel contention from the assigned link, subject to a successful survey and service design.
Comparison
How the main fixed-connectivity paths differ
Fibre, Licensed Microwave and fixed wireless can each be valid business options. The practical differences are availability at the address, physical deployment model, spectrum arrangement and the work needed to confirm a suitable design — not a universal technology ranking.
Swipe to compare → or scroll down for a stacked card view.
Licensed Microwave
- Connection model
- Fixed point-to-point radio path designed between surveyed locations.
- Spectrum arrangement
- Licensed / coordinated for the link; protected from third-party co-channel interference on that assigned path.
- What determines availability
- Route feasibility, path clearance, mounting, network endpoint, permissions and design.
- Where it may be assessed
- Remote, industrial, difficult-to-reach or specialist sites; some designs may be customer-specific where feasible.
- Interference statement
- Protected from third-party co-channel interference in the licensed / coordinated path. Other site and equipment factors still require design review.
- Latency-sensitive applications
- May be assessed for responsive fixed-business use where the path and application require it; no fixed figure is promised.
- Lead-time context
- Typically 5–10 working days, subject to feasibility, site access, design and scheduling.
- Commercial hand-off
- Licensed Microwave Internet service page for feasibility and quote.
Business Fibre
- Connection model
- Fixed-line fibre infrastructure to the premises, where available.
- Spectrum arrangement
- Not a radio access path.
- What determines availability
- Existing infrastructure, FNO feasibility, build conditions and address availability.
- Where it may be assessed
- Addresses with accessible suitable fibre infrastructure or an approved build path.
- Interference statement
- Not applicable as a radio-band comparison.
- Latency-sensitive applications
- May be assessed according to the service and application requirement; no universal performance statement.
- Lead-time context
- Existing-access and new-build timing vary by FNO and address.
- Commercial hand-off
- Business Fibre Internet service page for coverage and pricing context.
Fixed Wireless
- Connection model
- Fixed wireless access connection assessed for the premises.
- Spectrum arrangement
- Often operates in shared unlicensed spectrum, depending on the service design.
- What determines availability
- Coverage, line-of-sight / site conditions, network design and feasibility.
- Where it may be assessed
- Sites where a fixed wireless service can be designed and installed.
- Interference statement
- Shared-band conditions can be relevant to the service design; do not make a performance claim without assessment.
- Latency-sensitive applications
- Suitability depends on the actual network, site and application requirement.
- Lead-time context
- Installation timing is subject to feasibility, line-of-sight / site conditions and scheduling.
- Commercial hand-off
- Business Wireless Internet service page for feasibility and pricing context.
Decide your next step: Check Licensed Microwave feasibility · Check Business Fibre coverage · Check Business Wireless coverage · Compare Fibre and Wireless
In practice
The term describes spectrum management, not a customer permit
In a business connectivity context, "licensed" refers to spectrum that a provider is authorised and coordinated to use for the radio link. The provider manages the regulatory and technical spectrum arrangement. The customer buys the connectivity service and participates in the site-feasibility process; the customer is not being asked to apply for a spectrum licence.
What does spectrum coordination change?
It allows the radio path to be planned in allocated spectrum rather than sharing an open unlicensed band with unrelated nearby devices. For the assigned path, this protects against third-party co-channel interference that can affect shared-band deployments.
Does “licensed” mean no further design is needed?
No. It describes the spectrum arrangement. A link still needs a viable route, appropriate mounting, clear path planning, correctly installed equipment, power and an agreed hand-off into the customer network.
Is Licensed Microwave the same thing as general wireless internet?
Both use radio, but the deployment and spectrum model differ. General fixed wireless may use a shared access design, while licensed microwave is a designed point-to-point business link in coordinated spectrum.
Is it a replacement for fibre?
It can be designed as a fixed, dedicated business connectivity path comparable to fibre for relevant use cases. Whether it is the right route depends on the actual site, business applications, design, commercial terms and availability.
Can a provider build a link for a hard-to-serve site?
A provider may assess a customer-specific path where existing access options do not meet the need. Approval depends on feasibility, network reach, permissions, design and commercial scope.
Accountability
One clear contact for the connection SureTel supplies
Customers want someone to take responsibility when connectivity affects operations. SureTel is positioned as the clear contact for diagnosis, communication and coordination within the scope of the solution it supplies, rather than leaving the customer to interpret a chain of infrastructure and technology providers.
| What SureTel owns within scope | What is not promised |
|---|---|
| One service context — the supplied link, approved hand-off and relevant installation details are documented. | Responsibility for unrelated LAN, building power, third-party applications, endpoint devices or unrelated supplier systems. |
| Clear communication — meaningful updates on the connection incident within SureTel's support scope. | Blanket 24/7 support, guaranteed restoration times or automatic escalation outside contracted scope. |
| Practical coordination — investigate the connection path and coordinate with an underlying provider or required party where that is part of the supplied solution. | Control over a third party's internal process, network or repair schedule. |
| Honest boundaries — explain where customer-side or third-party investigation is needed rather than shifting blame. | An end-to-end fault promise across systems SureTel does not supply. |
Standard support hours: Monday–Friday 08:00–17:00. 24/7 SLA arrangements apply only where specifically agreed.
Feasibility review
From site question to a practical proposal
Share the site and requirement
Capture the physical address, required timing, current connection, business applications and decision contacts.
Review the route and site conditions
Confirm what needs to be surveyed: mounting, power, access, line-of-sight / clearance, possible network endpoint and any building permissions.
Design the practical options
Consider a licensed microwave path alongside fibre, fixed wireless or backup options where relevant. Do not present a final option before feasibility.
Present the scoped proposal
Provide the selected service scope, price, installation assumptions, lead-time context, hand-off point and any customer-site responsibilities.
Install, test and document
Complete the approved deployment, validate the agreed hand-off and record the support / communication path for the service supplied.
Ready to check your site?
Share your address and operational requirement. SureTel will review whether a designed radio path is practical for the site.
Related routes: Licensed Microwave Internet · Business Wireless Internet · Business Fibre Internet · Business Connectivity Solutions · Wireless vs Fibre Internet · Business Fibre vs LTE · Backup internet for business
FAQs
Microwave internet questions businesses ask
What is microwave internet?
Microwave internet is a fixed data connection delivered by radio between planned locations rather than through a fibre cable to the premises. For a business service, the exact route, equipment, site access and network hand-off are assessed before a connection is proposed.
What is licensed microwave internet?
Licensed microwave internet uses spectrum that the provider is authorised and coordinated to use for the particular radio path. This protects the assigned link from third-party co-channel interference associated with shared unlicensed bands. The customer buys the service; the provider manages the spectrum and technical licensing arrangement.
Is licensed microwave better than unlicensed wireless?
It is a different deployment model, not a universal winner. Its key distinction is coordinated licensed spectrum for the link, which protects the path from third-party co-channel interference. Suitability still depends on the site survey, route, business requirement, pricing and installation conditions.
Does licensed microwave have no interference?
The licensed / coordinated radio path is protected from third-party co-channel interference from unrelated devices using an open shared band. That benefit does not remove the need to design and maintain the link correctly: route clearance, equipment, alignment, site power and weather considerations remain part of the service assessment.
Is microwave internet the same as fibre?
No. Fibre uses a physical cable, while microwave uses a planned fixed radio path. Licensed Microwave can be designed as a fixed, dedicated business connectivity route comparable to fibre for relevant use cases, but the right option depends on the actual address, applications and feasibility result.
Can microwave internet be used where fibre is not available?
It may be assessed where fibre is unavailable, delayed or unsuitable. In some cases, a provider can investigate a customer-specific radio path for a remote or difficult-to-serve site. Feasibility, route design, permissions and commercial scope must be confirmed before a link is offered.
Can a microwave link support VoIP and cloud applications?
A properly designed fixed connection may be assessed for business voice and cloud workloads. Suitability depends on the actual link design, applications, local network, Wi-Fi, endpoint configuration and the required service scope. SureTel should review the full use case rather than assume a result from technology alone.
How long does Licensed Microwave installation take?
SureTel's typical Licensed Microwave lead-time context is 5–10 working days, subject to feasibility, path design, equipment, site access, permissions and installation scheduling. The confirmed proposal should state the actual assumptions and timing for the site.
How much does Licensed Microwave cost?
Licensed Microwave starts from R1,860 per month excluding VAT. Final pricing depends on the approved service design, feasibility, route, equipment, installation requirements, contract terms, site access and confirmed scope. Request a feasibility check for a site-specific proposal.
Does a business need to apply for a spectrum licence?
No. In the normal service model, the provider manages the spectrum licensing and coordination associated with its radio network. The business provides site information and access needed for feasibility, installation and the agreed service hand-off.
What must be checked before a microwave link is quoted?
The review should cover the address, mounting options, route clearance, power, site access, network hand-off, required applications, timing, relevant permissions and the available network endpoint. A quote should follow the feasibility and design review, not precede it.
Who helps if the connection has a fault?
SureTel should be the clear contact for the licensed connection it supplies. It can investigate, communicate and coordinate within that service scope. Where the issue sits in the customer LAN, Wi-Fi, power, endpoint devices, applications or an unrelated third-party service, SureTel should explain that boundary and help identify the next practical step.
Next step
Assess a licensed microwave path for your business site
Share the address and requirement so SureTel can review whether a designed radio path is practical.
- Licensed ISP
- Since 2010
- ICASA licence 0009/CECS/AUG/09
- Business connectivity focus
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