Wifi Revolution

BridgeWave Communications’ AR80X gigabit wireless links are helping the Optical Regional Advanced Network of Ontario (ORANO) to transport research information. They are also serving as a backup network connection between collaborating researchers in Canada and the United States.

 

ORANO is a not-for-profit organization in Ontario, Canada focused on supporting and advancing research, learning and innovation. BridgeWave’s (News - Alert) AdaptRate technology ensures seamless network connectivity for ORANO during all kinds of weather conditions over cross-border distances.

 

ORANO owns and operates the “ultra fast” Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network (ORION) fiber optic network that connects Ontario’s public research facilities to the global grid of research and education (R&E) networks. Due to its nature of work, the organization needs a reliable network that will help them quickly transport extremely large data files.

 

According to BridgeWave officials, ORANO wanted to connect the Point-of-Presence (PoP) at Sault College in Ontario to Merit Network’s PoP (the state of Michigan’s advanced R&E network) at Lake Superior State University (LSSU), both standing 6 kilometers (3.75 miles) apart.

 

BridgeWave was the vendor of choice among many competitors as their radios proved to operate in harsh weather conditions and also provided highly reliable gigabit transport and backup between the Northern Ontario and Michigan institutions. Before deploying this solution ORANO applied for and was awarded a special use permit from Industry Canada to allow operation at 80 GHz.

 

Following the implementation, researchers and educators in both countries are able to exchange large data sets while also supporting additional communications services between facilities.

 

Elaborating on their specific needs, Sam Mokbel, senior director of engineering and operations for ORION, said that they required a dependable network link that is not affected by severe weather and found upper millimeter wave gigabit wireless technology to address all their needs.

 

“We needed uninterrupted connectivity for a gigabit of data over long distances between two cities in neighboring countries. Reliability, not price, was the primary consideration, however, BridgeWave’s price and ROI made the choice more attractive,” he added.

 

BridgeWave’s AdaptRate technology also allows the network to throttle down speed from 1 GigE to 100 Mbps and maintain high availability during severe weather conditions.

 

Amir Makleff, president and chief executive officer for BridgeWave, pointed out that upper millimeter wave gigabit wireless links can successfully provide the high bandwidth and reliability for applications used for higher education learning purposes.

 

“In ORANO’s case, the BridgeWave links have proven to be seamless and reliable even over long distances in varying geographies,” he noted.

 

 

 

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