With broadband networking products in high-demand, Streakwave’s Richard Bernhardt, senior director of marketing, recently spoke with TMC (News - Alert) CEO Rich Tehrani to weigh in on where he sees the industry is headed and how the company is filling an important need within this growing segment.

Streakwave (News - Alert), which is based in San Jose, Calif., is a value-added distributor, specializing in the fixed wireless broadband sector.

“We cover anything that a wireless Internet service provider, a service provider or a vertical applications provider would need to access and use the Internet,” Bernhardt explained recently in a video interview.

Convergence (News - Alert) of communications technologies and growth in wireless broadband sectors includes: hospitality, government, healthcare, education, enterprises and especially service providers.

“The market itself has changed both in its cost structure and availability, there is now a much wider range of products available, radios and systems for people to use to get on to the Internet. And secondarily, the cost has come down so that small providers can now afford to do what large providers used to do,” Bernhardt explained, adding that Streakwave works with a stable of 42 manufacturers and works with industry councils and associations, such as WISPA (Wireless Internet Service Providers Association) and the TIA (News - Alert) to stay abreast of the latest advancements in technology

“Like any business, we do need to keep tabs on which technologies are advancing, and which ones are moving along and which technologies important to the government and businesses,” he said. “One good thing about the broadband industry is that is has a dynamic range of technologies.”

Most of Streakwave’s customers are trying to keep up in a tough economy, as are most businesses.

“Maintaining the ability to keep equipment affordable, the total cost of ownership for their equipment is important,” Bernhardt said. “But believe it or not, most of our clients have  thrived during this downturn, which is pretty much a given these days that people want broadband, need broadband and it’s become a fundamental part of their business.”

Streakwave’s equipment includes: access points, antennas, amplifiers, both licensed and un-licensed backhauls, wireless bridge kits, mesh networking products, WiMAX (News - Alert) equipment, and wireless Internet service provider startup kits including all applicable accessories.  The San Jose, Calif.-based company also has sales and distribution facilities Salt Lake City, Utah; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Curitiba-Parana, Brazil.