BridgeWave claims their FlexPort µWave, is the first licensed microwave product line capable of true line-rate GigE connectivity in a single all-outdoor unit. The company says it will leverage their experience in high capacity (60-70-80 GHz) radios and is optimized for 4G mobile backhaul.
LTE base stations, requiring hundreds of megabits of capacity, has prompted the industry to explore solutions that can scale to up to a full gigabit. DragonWave got a big boost from Clearwire using lower frequency (23/38 GHz) radios. Now mobile carriers like AT&T, Verizon and others are looking to expand their backhaul and companies like Bridgewave say the 70-80 GHz band is a good way to go. Lots of headroom.
FlexPort µWave offers a cost effective migration path from initial medium capacity (300Mbps) transport, to full-rate gigabit access and backhaul connections without the added expense of a second tower climb. A firmware upgrade does the trick. It supports both TDM and IP traffic natively.
BridgeWave claims their new FlexPort µWave yields gigabit throughput and can reach distances up to 10 miles. BridgeWave’s FlexPort solutions are available in the licensed 18 and 23 GHz microwave bands for medium range connectivity, as well as the 80 GHz millimeter wave bands for short haul deployments.
Bridgewave’s upgradeable 60 GHz product, using the unlicensed 60 GHz band, delivers some 100 Mbps for around $10,000 per link, with a range up to half a mile. The company’s most expensive solution, the extended-range 80 GHz product with AdaptRate, AdaptPath and AES encryption, lists at $47,000 per link. The FlexPort family of carrier-class gigabit wireless systems will be available in the second quarter.
Other Gbps wireless gear is available from Alvarion, Ceragon, DragonWave, E-Band Communications, Gigabeam, Loea, Proxim’s GigaLink, and Exalt, among others. Exalt, for example, has a new EX-i Series GigE long haul product. The EX-i Series is an indoor system, using the upper and lower 6 GHz FCC bands.
Related Dailywireless stories on Millimter Band radios include; Exalt on 5 GHz, DragonWave: More Bits per Buck, 3.65 GHz Gets Real, 70GHz Radios, NextPhase + GigaBeam Deliver SoCal Biz Nets, EZ Wireless Deploys 60 GHz for DOJ, FiberTower to Backhaul Sprint WiMAX, XO Expands Backhaul, and Millimeter Gigabit Gets Competition.
