To link two buildings without fibre, use a 5 GHz or 60 GHz point-to-point radio bridge: 300 Mbps to 1 Gbps throughput, useful range of 500 m to 5 km, latency under 3 ms, for an installed cost of MAD 8,000 to 25,000 per pair. It deploys far faster than trenching and costs less than a dedicated carrier link.
How to connect two buildings without fibre: short answer
Three options exist: the point-to-point radio bridge (recommended for most cases), the proprietary optical link for very short urban distances, and the VPN over two internet connections when you accept the throughput and latency limits of the public network. In 80% of cases, the 5 GHz/60 GHz radio bridge is the best cost/schedule/performance trade-off.
Comparison of the 4 interconnection options
| Option | Useful throughput | Distance | Indicative cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 GHz radio bridge (PTP) | 300 Mbps – 1 Gbps | 1 – 5 km | MAD 10,000 – 25,000 |
| 60 GHz radio bridge | 1 – 3 Gbps | 300 m – 1.5 km | MAD 15,000 – 35,000 |
| Optical / FSO link | 1 – 10 Gbps | 100 – 800 m | MAD 25,000 – 60,000 |
| VPN over 2 internet links | Depends on ISP | Unlimited | MAD 3,000 – 12,000 / year |
Step 1 — Verify direct line of sight
A radio bridge requires clear optical line of sight between both antennas. On site: get on the roofs, photograph along the axis, and check that no building, tree or future construction cuts the line. Partial obstruction drops throughput by 50 to 90%.
Step 2 — Measure distance and calculate height
Measure the real distance (GPS or mapping tool) then calculate the height needed to respect the Fresnel zone: roughly 60% of the first ellipsoid must stay clear. Rule of thumb: over 1 km, plan 4 to 6 m of clearance above obstacles.
Step 3 — Choose the frequency band
5 GHz: better penetration, tolerates rain, ideal beyond 1 km. 60 GHz: higher throughput but very sensitive to obstruction and heavy rain — reserved for short clear distances. In Morocco, check ANRT compliance and frequency registration before deployment.
Step 4 — Install, align, secure
Mount antennas on a rigid mast or bracket (never on a vibrating railing), align using the built-in signal tool, then:
- encrypt the link (WPA2-AES or AES-256 depending on hardware);
- disable SSID broadcast and restrict access by MAC address;
- update firmware and change default credentials;
- segment the network into VLANs between the two buildings.
Step 5 — Plan redundancy
A single radio bridge is a single point of failure. In a professional setup you provide either a backup link (4G/LTE or a second bridge on another frequency) or automatic failover driven by a multi-WAN router. See our case study Aromes-Co: multi-WAN fibre + 4G resilience.
Radio bridge or fibre trench: the real maths
A fibre trench typically costs MAD 200 to 600 per linear metre in urban areas (permits, roadworks, resurfacing), i.e. MAD 200,000 to 600,000 for 1 km — before administrative delays. An equivalent radio bridge installs in 2 to 5 days for MAD 10,000 to 25,000. Fibre wins on stable throughput and durability; radio wins on schedule and cost.
In short: 5 GHz radio bridge for 1 to 5 km (MAD 10,000 – 25,000), 60 GHz under 1.5 km for high throughput, VPN over two internet links if latency is not critical. Always: verified line of sight, calculated height, encrypted link, and a planned backup.
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