Wifi Revolution

BelAir Networks, a leading provider of wireless mesh network solutions for municipalities, hotels, resorts and campuses, has reportedly been issued a key U.S. patent for its carrier-grade wireless mesh backhaul technology.

Although a company press release announcing the news does not cover the details of this technology, it does state that the mesh backhaul solution is key to delivering the “carrier-class capacity and reliability” for which the company’s networks have been recognized. This same technology recently helped the company garner the prestigious Technology Innovation Award by industry analysts, Frost & Sullivan.

In addition the company claims that in recent third party testing of 41 wireless networks, its solution was ranked #1 in terms of performance. The company’s solutions are already deployed in over 250 networks worldwide.

“Not only has BelAir Networks already garnered high-profile wins such as Minneapolis, City of London, and Toronto, they have a record for delivering innovation,” said Roberta Wiggins, research fellow, Yankee Group (News - Alert), in the press release. “By managing their intellectual property, BelAir Networks is protecting the financial, technical and commercial interests of both [its] customers and strategic partners, and ensuring the long term sustainability of the network investment.”

“The technology described in this patent is not only key to BelAir Networks demonstrated success, it reflects an emerging trend in the wireless mesh industry towards higher performance networks,” said Stephen Rayment, CTO, BelAir Networks. “As service providers and cities are increasingly demanding higher performance – in terms of bandwidth, QoS and low latency – the wireless mesh backhaul technology reflected in our patent becomes the ‘best practices’ approach. This patent protects our customers and partners and provides a basis for effective knowledge sharing within the industry.”

BelAir Networks is currently exhibiting its solutions at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

The company claims it delivered the industry’s first FCC (News - Alert)-certified WiMAX Mesh solution – a solution is in live operation today. In addition it boasts the industry’s first multi-service mesh combining WiFi (News - Alert), WiMAX and cellular technologies, as well as the industry’s first T1/E1 circuit emulation over a WiFi or WiMAX mesh.

In addition to its award winning platform, the company’s product line includes the four-radio BelAir200 Wireless Multi-service Switch Router; the dual-radio BelAir100 Multi-service Node; the BelAir100C Multi-service Node featuring point-to-multipoint backhaul; the BelAir100S; and the single-radio BelAir50C. All of these are seamlessly managed by the BelAir BelView Network Management System.

For cellular operators, BelAir also offers the BelAir300 Converged Multi-service Wireless Node, combining cellular, WiFi and wireless mesh on a converged platform.

The privately-held company also deals in 4.9 GHz public safety and cellular backhaul solutions.

For more information, visit www.belairnetworks.com.

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Patrick Barnard is Assignment Editor for TMCnet and a columnist covering the telecom industry. To see more of his articles, please visit Patrick Barnard’s columnist page.

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