NIIR Tropospheric Stations

2021: Development of tropospheric stations

The Scientific Institute of Radio (NIIR, subordinate to the Ministry of Digital Affairs) on August 20, 2021 announced the development of tropospheric stations that will be able to solve the problem of digital inequality in remote regions of the country.

Stations allow you to relay a radio signal hundreds of kilometers, which is another tool for eliminating digital inequality in Russia.

With relative cheapness and ease of installation, the development of NIIDs can cover a distance of up to 170 km, providing a data transfer rate of up to 46 Mbps.

Laying an optical fiber network to remote settlements is technically difficult and economically impractical. Satellite communications also do not solve the problem due to the weak development of satellite groupings in the northern regions (both in highly elliptical and low orbits). Therefore, the installation of tropospheric stations can be the most optimal solution to the issue - especially for Russia with its vast territories, "said Oleg Ivanov, Director General of FSUE NIIR.

The main difference between the development of NIIR is support for relay mode, which allows you to increase the communication range up to four times.

{{quote 'Deploying wireless networks may cause a node to become "closed" because of its geographic location - remote or low point location. Relay solves the problem - the ability to receive/transmit a signal at the intermediate node. This may be, for example, a traffic police post or paramedic station, from where it will be possible to relay the signal another 100-150 km to the next node, "Oleg Ivanov explained. }}

In addition, the NIIR station is on average 30% cheaper than analogues, and only two people are required for its installation (usually 4-5 people are needed).