Soma Networks today said it has made one of its first sales of 700 MHz broadband wireless equipment, selling its FlexMAX system to CTC Telecom in Wisconsin to deploy in hard-to-reach and rural areas.
CTC will use the new gear to reach customers in Ladysmith, Wis., offering Internet and VoIP packages over the IP connection, reports Telephony Magazine. CTC said that by deploying the system it is able to reduce operational overhead costs by 90%.
The Soma system replaces an earlier broadband wireless network that required the mounting of an external antenna, while the Soma kit uses a portable gateway. The FlexMAX system is based on the IEEE 802.16e technology Soma is submitting for WiMAX certification.
The 700 MHz UHF bands have long been prized because of their long reach, making the optimal for non-urban deployments where signals have to travel miles from the base station to reach customers. Until recently, however, winners of the first 700 MHz auction have not been able to use their spectrum because incumbent broadcasters had not vacated.
Based on the IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard, SOMA Networks’ FlexMAX System enables service providers targeting “digital divide” or emerging, rural, and competitive urban markets in areas such as China, India and South East Asia. FlexMAX architecture supports multi-antenna processing technologies, including Space Time Coding (STC), Adaptive Antenna System (AAS) and Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO).
SOMA is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Dallas, Toronto, Ottawa and Singapore. It has technology partnerships with Sequans, SANYO, Zentek.
In September, 2006, DirecTV and EchoStar in joint comments to the FCC, urged the Commission to create at least one nationwide 700 MHz license. The ability to offer a nationwide service is critical for a new entrant to compete, they said. Pointing to the AWS auction, DirecTV and EchoStar also said the FCC auction rules “may unintentionally discourage nationwide entrants in favor of their local or regional competitors.”
Aloha Partners says 700MHz could provide an inexpensive return path for satellite customers, particularly those in rural areas and estimates they each need at least 10-20MHz to have enough capacity.
