Overview

Primary need was highly reliable, high-speed internet connectivity with guaranteed uptime to support critical school operations (attendance, testing, bells, learning) and prevent disruptive closures.

Metro Wireless was tasked to fix the wireless internet service to solve internet connectivity problems for a school. This solution uses dedicated, line-of-sight wireless links instead of traditional ground-based cables. 

The key result has been the complete elimination of school dismissals previously caused by internet outages. The new service offers significantly improved reliability and uptime, ensuring that educational activities can continue smoothly without disruption, even during adverse weather or when there are problems with conventional ground-level infrastructure. 

Furthermore, the organization is planning for future expansion by upgrading to even faster 5Gbps connections.

Key Points:

1. Solution deployed: Metro Wireless Fixed Wireless Internet service.
2. Technology type: Fixed Wireless Access (FWA).
3. Key feature: Dedicated, line-of-sight microwave connectivity.
4. Primary outcome: Elimination of internet-related school dismissals
5. Performance Improvements:
   
   1. Significantly improved reliability.
   2. Significantly improved uptime.
6. Benefit: Enables seamless educational operations.
7. Resilience: Works regardless of weather or ground-level infrastructure issues.
8. Future plan: Scaling to 5Gbps connections is underway.

The Challenge

Prior to Metro Wireless, American Internet Group struggled to provide high quality internet access for schools in Pontiac and Detroit due to heavy reliance on unreliable incumbent providers like Comcast and AT&T. Frequent, prolonged outages, especially during storms or caused by infrastructure issues like copper theft and fiber cuts, severely disrupted school operations. 

Since internet access is essential for attendance, state testing, bells, and learning, outages exceeding one hour forced student dismissals, derailing education. Traditional failover solutions failed as backups, as they often shared the same vulnerable infrastructure. 

Limited provider options meant choosing between AT&T's high cost or Comcast's unreliability, both offering insufficient uptime guarantees. Providers also missed critical deadlines for FCC-funded circuits and misrepresented delivered bandwidth speeds, compounding the challenges.

Key Challenges:

1. Unreliable incumbent providers: Frequent, prolonged outages from Comcast and AT&T, especially during storms, with no guaranteed uptime.
2. Critical downtime impact: Internet essential for attendance, testing, bells, and learning; outages >1 hour forced school dismissals.
3. Inadequate failover: Traditional backup solutions (e.g., Comcast) failed as they shared the same vulnerable infrastructure as primary providers.
4. Limited provider options & High Costs: Only AT&T (expensive) or Comcast (cheaper but unreliable) are available in areas like Pontiac.
5. Infrastructure vulnerabilities: Outages caused by copper theft and accidental fiber cuts during construction, leading to extended downtime (24hrs+).
6. Missed critical deadlines: Incumbent providers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Comcast) failed to meet deadlines for turning up essential circuits for FCC programs.
7. Bandwidth misrepresentation: Advertised speeds (e.g., 500Mbps) significantly exceeded actual delivered speeds (e.g., 100Mbps), insufficient for school needs.

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The Solution

Metro Wireless addressed AIG's critical school internet needs by deploying a robust fixed wireless microwave solution. This involved installing dedicated point-to-point wireless antennas on strategic locations (like a downtown building and a school), creating direct line-of-sight connections immune to ground-level issues such as copper theft or construction cuts.

Engineered explicitly for maximum reliability, the system consistently performed through Michigan's seasonal extremes. Metro Wireless backed the technology with a 99.99% uptime guarantee and rapid on-site support.

Crucially, they reliably met the strict July 1st deadlines required for FCC-funded school circuits. The solution offers scalable bandwidth, including plans for 5Gbps upgrades, and is supported by dedicated account management for ongoing needs and planning.

Key Features:

1. Fixed wireless technology: Dedicated point-to-point line-of-sight antennas bypassing ground-level vulnerabilities
2. Engineered reliability: Proven consistent uptime performance through harsh Michigan winters and summers
3. Deadline compliance: Reliably met critical FCC turn-up deadlines for school operations.
4. Scalable bandwidth: Flexible capacity to meet growing demands; future plans for 5Gbps upgrades
5. Dedicated account management: Assigned contacts for personalized support and future planning

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The Result

Metro Wireless's deployment delivered transformative results for AIG and its schools: it eliminated internet-related closures, ensuring educational continuity and testing. Metro Wireless’s guaranteed 99.99% uptime met critical operational needs for attendance and daily functions.

The reliable connection enabled effective bandwidth management and network prioritization. The service proved resilient year-round, unaffected by weather. High client satisfaction was expressed, and the K-12 success created a foundation for growth. AIG strongly recommends Metro Wireless for its top-tier reliability and service.
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Conclusion

American Internet Group LLC's partnership with Metro Wireless successfully resolved chronic internet reliability issues that severely disrupted educational operations for its school clients.

By replacing unreliable traditional providers with Metro's robust point-to-point fixed wireless solution, AIG achieved the critical uptime required for modern schools, eliminating disruptive closures and ensuring seamless learning and testing.

The solution's proven reliability, rapid support, and ability to meet strict deadlines fostered deep trust and satisfaction. This success has not only solidified the partnership for existing clients but also created significant opportunities for expansion, including major bandwidth upgrades and extending services to community colleges.

John Edwards' strong endorsement underscores Metro Wireless as the preferred solution for businesses, especially educational institutions, demanding guaranteed, high-performance connectivity.

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