Airband Communications (News - Alert) is now finishing work on significant capital improvements to, as the company calls it “future-proof its core fixed-wireless network.” The dollar figure of the investment was not disclosed.
The effort includes the deployment of next-generation radio technologies, an upgrade of its national backhaul circuit capacity and a transition to more Ethernet-based circuits, and expanded use of high-capacity network equipment. It also includes a new voice-services hub in Scottsdale, Ariz., which enhances redundancy and resiliency due to the geographic diversity of its Scottsdale and Dallas voice hubs.
“We are upgrading our network because there’s a quantum leap coming in the kinds of high-speed services we can deliver over our fixed-wireless network, and that creates tremendous long-term opportunities for Airband and our customers,” said Airband CEO Michael Ruley (News - Alert). “Both existing and new customers are asking for higher bandwidth connections as their business applications evolve. Airband’s ability to provide scalable pipes that can deliver faster-than-fiber transit speeds is meeting this demand. Airband’s financial strength enables us to continually invest in our infrastructure and our people, which will only bring more benefits to our customers.”
Airband provides voice and data services, including Internet, VoIP and business continuity solutions, over its wholly-owned, fixed wireless network. The network bypasses the local phone and cable infrastructure to avoid downtime that can be caused by cable cuts or natural disasters.
The company reportedly sells those services in 17 U.S. markets: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Dallas, Des Moines, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Worth, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Orange (News - Alert) County, Calif.; Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego and Washington, D.C.
Airband, which is the result of the combination of Airband and Sparkplug (News - Alert) in 2010, as discussed in a past TMCnet story, brings its services to market via a combination of direct and agent-based sales.
As discussed in a TMCnet article about Airband earlier this year, the company’s channel program already has seen strong gains, but the company continues to strengthen this effort. It has been adding staff to support the channel, having been better targeting potential partners and providing education so selling the company’s fixed wireless services is second nature for channel partners.
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Edited by Braden Becker