As the wireless world takes to WiMAX and with growing demands of mobile connectivity and network scalability, there is a need for wireless broadband solutions to provide the best wireless distribution and access technologies. With this in mind, Frost & Sullivan has taken interest in developments at Proxim Wireless (www.proxim.com), a company that specialises in developing and supplying scalable broadband wireless networking systems. Proxim has launched a new multiradio product line called MeshMax that incorporates WiMAX, Wi-Fi Mesh and Wi-Fi access.
By integrating these three major technologies, the company has taken the concept of convergence to the underlying technologies of broadband wireless networking. MeshMax is, thus, the convergence of WiMAX, Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Mesh technologies.
This tri-radio, outdoor device offers Wi-Fi connectivity for access, Wi-Fi Mesh gateway for network redundancy and a high capacity, carrier-class WiMAX link for backhaul. By means of this product, the user can connect to the WiMAX base station for backhauling through the WiMAX subscriber unit; can use the mesh gateway, which provides 5 GHz mesh backhaul by connecting to other mesh devices in the network and can avail the Wi-Fi Access Point functionality.
The MeshMax supports the 3,3 GHz to 3,6 GHz range in the licensed bands and the 5,1 GHz to 5,8 GHz range in the unlicensed bands for WiMAX and the 2,4 GHz and 5,1 GHz to 5,8 GHz bands for Wi-Fi Mesh.
Some noteworthy advantages of each of these technologies are that in addition to providing last mile access, WiMAX also offers point to multipoint backhauling with quality of service (QoS) and bandwidth control; the Mesh can be extremely useful for interconnecting dense areas at the edge of a network and Wi-Fi access allows for the use of standards-compliant, off-the-shelf clients. By combining all these advantages, it would be possible to cater to a myriad of applications.
The MeshMax can find use in wireless solutions for bandwidth intensive and high-definition IP-surveillance cameras located at important and vulnerable locations such as airports, bridges, and trains. It could also be used in secure and reliable backhaul of Wi-Fi Mesh traffic. Since it does not require Ethernet cables, it can help in lowering infrastructure costs. It can be very useful in applications such as on-demand entertainment and broadband access solutions for public transportation. The MeshMax can be used by network operators to provide a combination of IPTV, VoIP and Internet access to subscribers through broadband wireless connection.
Another noteworthy thing about MeshMax is that it leverages Proxim's Tsunami MP.16, which is WiMAX Forum certified, and ORiNOCO mesh products, which are Wi-Fi certified. MeshMax is compatible with all of Proxim's existing products and primarily targets carriers and municipalities.
The MeshMax Series consists of two versions: MeshMax Model 3500WM includes one radio for WiMAX backhaul, one radio for Wi-Fi Mesh and one radio for 802.11b/g Wi-Fi access; expanding the Wi-Fi coverage, Model 3500W will use one radio for WiMAX backhaul and two radios for tri-mode Wi-Fi access, supporting 802.11a and 802.11b/g clients.
Proxim is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including the Frost & Sullivan Award for Product Innovation in the Field of Scalable Wireless Broadband Systems in 2006.
For more information contact Patrick Cairns, Frost & Sullivan, +27 (0)21 680 3274, [email protected]
© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved
printer friendly version