A Glut of 5.8 GHz Gear
A pair of vendors introduced new 5.8 Ghz radio products of interest to wireless
Internet Sservice Providers (WISPs) recently. Advanced Radio Cells Inc. (ARCi) of Campbell,
Calif. announced availability of a new 5GHz omni-directional broadband hub transceiver/antenna
system. And ADTRAN Inc. of Huntsville AL unveiled its TRACER
4305 DS3 and TRACER 4206 Quad T1 radios.
The ARCi product, the AR2250-1, is based on the company’s point-to-multipoint
wireless solution. It’s optimized to service from 100-500 subscribers in rural
or underserved areas.
“Our omni-directional product is a tremendous solution for those service
providers looking to deliver truly affordable wireless broadband to their
customers at a very attractive price point,” says ARCi president and Chief
Executive Officer Jim Bertonis.
“The omni-directional antenna solution provides four miles of 360 degrees of
transmit coverage for up to 500 subscribers at a price point of less than
$10,000. Now that’s a value to both the service provider and eventually the end
customer.”
The system is the first commercially available DOCSIS-compatible product
to use the 5 GHz band, the company says. It uses a Wireless Cable Modem
Termination System (W-CMTS) and a hub transceiver antenna at the base station,
along with a subscriber transceiver antenna and modem at the customer site.
The AR2250-1 available now.
The two ADTRAN products are the latest members of the company’s TRACER Series
of fixed wireless systems. The TRACER 4305 is a compact, point-to-point radio
offering 45 Mbps of full-duplex connectivity at a significantly lower cost than
competing products, the company says.
The TRACER 4206 offers up to four T1s of bandwidth for cost-effective
high-speed voice, video or data applications.
Both products eliminate monthly recurring costs and reduce capital
expenditures to provide rapid return on investment, the company says. They’re
designed to be used by wireless carriers and in corporate networks where rapid
deployment and cost savings are essential or where high-bandwidth infrastructure
is inadequate or nonexistent.
“The TRACER 4000 Series products have been engineered to minimize
interference and achieve carrier-class quality and reliability in a form factor
that conserves valuable rack space,” says Dan Pritchett, ADTRAN’s director of
wireless products.
“They provide the performance required to meet the growing needs of carrier
and enterprise applications much more economically than similar transport
alternatives.”
The TRACER 4305 has a list price of $10,995 and is currently shipping. The
TRACER 4206 has a list price of $7,995 and will be available in October.
Wayport Working Hard
Pioneer hotspot network operator Wayport Inc. of Austin, TX, is still selling
aggressively despite an increasingly fragmented and complicated multi-tiered
hotspot market.
After signing up its one millionth subscriber early last month, Wayport
recently announced an innovative promotional program with Sharp Electronics and
another service deal with the high-profile Loews Hotels chain.
Under the Loews deal, announced in the middle of last month, Wayport will
provide broadband Internet service in seven properties, a collection of
one-of-a-kind hotels and resorts in the United States and Canada.
“Because we value the highest-quality guest experience, selecting Wayport as
a partner was a natural fit for us, as they truly understand how to provide a
seamless turnkey Internet solution and unsurpassed customer care,” says
Charlotte St. Martin, Loews Hotels’ executive vice president of marketing.
“In addition, Wayport has been in the industry longer than any other provider
and offers ongoing sales and marketing support, which helps drive incremental
business travel and meeting revenue to our properties.”
Wayport will provide high-speed wired Internet access in more than 2,200
guest rooms, Wi-Fi wireless access in common areas (such as lobbies), and both
Wi-Fi wireless and wired access in more than 100 meeting facilities.
The properties include Loews Philadelphia Hotel, The Regency in New York
City, Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Loews Vanderbilt in Nashville, Loews Coronado Bay
Resort in San Diego, Loews Denver Hotel and Loews Annapolis Hotel.
Under the marketing agreement with Sharp Systems of America, Sharp
customers will get 30 days of free wireless and wired access in Wayport’s
nationwide network hotels and airports when they purchase one of Sharp’s Actius
notebook computers.
“This partnership brings together the ultimate in mobile computing with the
ultimate in wireless networking,” said Craig Rittenhouse, Sharp’s vice president
of marketing and product planning.
“Wayport’s growing network provides business travelers the ability to stay
connected where they need it most, in hotels and airports, and is gaining
widespread acceptance by the new generation of mobile warriors.”
Sharp Actius customers can sign up for the 30-day free trial of Wayport’s
service. Customers will receive unlimited high-speed Internet connectivity
in more than 460 hotels, as well as at gates and terminals in four international
airports: Dallas-Fort Worth, Seattle-Tacoma, San Jose and Austin-Bergstrom.
“The Sharp Actius features a utility program that enables customers to
seamlessly find and use Wi-Fi networks, which is a crucial benefit to the
millions of travelers who are actively seeking high-speed Internet as a way to
stay connected on the road,” says Wayport vice president of marketing Dan
Lowden.
New Kid on the WISP Block
New WISPs and hotspot network operators keep popping up in the darnedest places.
ClearSKY Networks recently launched
high-speed wireless Internet service in a six-block hotzone in the university
town of Clemson SC.
The service, launched late last month, “propels the Clemson community to the
vanguard among U.S. cities as computer technology advances in the 21st century,”
the company said somewhat grandiosely in its announcement.
ClearSKY’s Clemson project provides inside and outside coverage across six
city blocks and numerous apartment complexes. Expansion is already underway. The
company anticipates that demand for wireless Internet usage will skyrocket among
many of the city’s 12,000 residents and 17,000 full-time students.
Headquartered in Clemson, ClearSKY Networks is expanding its current operation
there. Long-range plans include providing wireless service to other cities throughout
the southern United States.
Reprinted from ISP Planet.
