If you're in the business of providing last-mile or site-to-site internet coverage, then you rely on backhaul to connect your internet service to network infrastructure.
Backhaul refers to the part of the network that carries data from local access points, such as cell towers or neighborhood fiber nodes, back to the core of the internet via a physical point of presence (PoP) on the network. It's like an arterial that connects smaller roads to the interstate.
Backhaul matters—it needs to be fast and reliable to ensure the data moves quickly and smoothly, meeting the needs of everyone at the end of the route.
Who needs backhaul?
- Wireless internet service providers (WISPs), which deliver service from cellular towers to neighborhoods. Cell service needs a backhaul to connect to the main network
- Municipal networks and government bodies working on broadband expansion or smart cities
- Data centers and cloud providers that need to interconnect multiple facilities and major internet exchanges
- Corporations, universities and hospitals that rely on private networks and connect to multiple sites
- Wholesale network providers that lease fiber to other telecoms or internet carriers without investing in new infrastructure
With the expansion of cellular coverage, the growth of cloud computing and storage, the rise of streaming and gaming and the increasing connectivity of everyday devices, robust backhaul has never been more essential.
Why is fiber the best for backhaul?
Legacy technologies like copper and coaxial cable are limited by distance and susceptible to bottlenecks. Fiber-optic networks, by contrast, offer extraordinary bandwidth and symmetrical speeds—so data flows quickly, efficiently and without congestion.
Fiber is also durable and future-proof. It's immune to electromagnetic interference, supports massive throughput and can scale easily as bandwidth needs grow. Properly installed, fiber infrastructure is designed to last for decades with minimal degradation.
When thinking about backhaul and choosing a provider, fiber internet goes the extra mile to support the last mile.
Benefits of fiber backhaul
The benefits of relying on a fiber-optic network for backhaul come down to the overall benefits of fiber internet:
- High capacity: Fiber networks can handle hundreds of gigabits in throughput
- Low latency: Ensures faster data transmission with minimal packet loss and jitter
- Scalability: Increases bandwidth to meet growing demand
- Redundancy: Parallel routes enable failover and planned maintenance without downtime
Choose Ziply Fiber for your backhaul needs
Ziply Fiber's fully redundant, fully owned and operated fiber-optic network provides a 100+ Gig backbone and low-latency routes strategically located across the Northwest.
Our Wholesale team partners with ISPs, WISPs, telecoms and enterprise clients to build customized, scalable backhaul solutions. We continue to expand our footprint to connect communities long underserved by large legacy providers.
Keep systems online and customers happy with a backhaul solution built on the most innovative, future-ready fiber technology to deliver performance you can count on from the core to the last mile.
Learn more about Ziply Fiber's wholesale solutions. Get in touch with one of our representatives today.
