Many organizations require data and voice communications in industrial and outdoor environments. Historically these needs have been met by a patchwork of copper or fiber-optic cable in the ground, low-bandwidth 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz wireless links, and depending on the particular site, satellite networks too. While wire-line networks can support high data rates with high reliability, it is not always feasible or cost-effective to dig trenches or string overhead wire across chemical plants, container ports or off-shore oil platforms. Manufacturing plants and storage facilities with explosive atmospheres and ignition hazards have specialized installation requirements, raising the installation cost and complexity of wired networks. Consequently many deployments utilize both wired and wireless technologies, often combining licensed and unlicensed spectrum across a number of different frequencies.

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