BelAir Networks announced Wednesday at the Cable Show ‘09 the industry’s first dual-mode WiMAX/Wi-Fi wireless node optimized for deployment on existing cable infrastructure.
The new BelAir100SX leverages the company’s modular architecture to combine the functions of a mobile WiMAX 802.16e base station, a Wi-Fi access point, and a DOCSIS cable modem in one compact, ruggedized product that integrates with existing cable infrastructure for mounting, power and backhaul. It includes aerial plant, pedestal, cabinet and vault mounting options. The BelAir100SX also supports seamless integration with the cable operator’s back office infrastructure to facilitate service provisioning and bundling.
“Cable operators are well positioned to increase subscriber retention and revenues by adding mobility to their current triple play bundles,” said Berge Ayvazian, chief strategy officer, Yankee Group. “With the modular, dual-mode and cable-ready BelAir100SX node, BelAir Networks has made it faster, more economical and less risky for cable operators to capitalize on the complementary nature of licensed and license-free wireless technology associated with large scale wireless network deployments.”
According to BelAir, a micro-cellular approach provides better coverage, bandwidth and spectrum utilization while eliminating many of the time-consuming and costly issues associated with traditional macro-cellular tower and rooftop deployments, including site acquisition and provisioning of backhaul.
The BelAir100SX enables any combination of licensed and license-free spectrum – currently including Wi-Fi, WiMAX, 4.9 GHz Public Safety, 5.9 GHz ITS and 4.4 GHz military bands – to be supported simultaneously on one network deployment. This modular architecture also protects the network investment by enabling a migration path to future technologies such as LTE and whitespace.
