News | December 10, 2008

With Wi-Fi Use Soaring, BelAir Networks Announces New 802.11n Access Point Optimized For Service Providers

Kanata, Ontario - Wi-Fi enabled devices continue to proliferate worldwide driving tremendous opportunities for service providers to address the resultant increased demand for Wi-Fi access. In late October, IDC stated that "Wi-Fi is set to take off in mobile handsets with dual-mode phones that provide both conventional cellular and WLAN connectivity". This month, ABI Research forecasted that more than a billion Wi-Fi chipsets will ship during 2011 alone, explaining that: "On the device side, this is driven mainly by cellular handsets, consumer electronics, laptops, netbooks and mobile Internet devices." To help service providers capitalize on the growing demand for Wi-Fi access driven by this huge increase in devices, BelAir Networks today announced the new BelAir20 Access Point (AP).

The BelAir20 AP is a best in class, ultra-compact and easily powered dual-radio, dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi indoor AP that:

  • Leverages the same BelAirOS operating system and BelView network management used in BelAir Networks award-winning outdoor nodes
  • Enables hosted software based control that lowers network CapEx by 30%
  • Integrates with the service provider's back office to facilitate service provisioning and bundling, ease deployment and operation, and reduce network commissioning and upgrade costs
  • Expands the operator's service reach in mobile indoor/outdoor opportunities
  • Provides wireless backhaul between APs cutting installed costs by 40%

The BelAir20 AP is designed to enable service providers to deliver centrally managed and hosted public or private Wi-Fi services in a variety of high density environments including retail hotspots and hotzones, campuses, hospitality venues including hotels, resorts, conference centers and stadiums, and in mass transit vehicles and stations. The BelAir20 AP, configurable with wired or wireless backhaul, or as a bridge from outside in, complements the company's comprehensive portfolio of outdoor Wi-Fi nodes enabling service providers to deliver seamless mobile coverage inside and outdoors. By incorporating BelAir's high speed mobility software, the BelAir20 can even provide a highly cost effective "on board" solution for moving vehicles.

"Many projects require a blend of indoor and outdoor coverage and our telecom and cable customers want to be able to offer coverage that's seamless for their customer but also seamless in an operational sense," explains Stephen Rayment, CTO, BelAir Networks. "It's not nearly enough to just deliver an 802.11n AP – it also has to be incredibly easy for the service provider to deploy, operate and monetize."

BelAir Networks #1 market share for the last five quarters is a result of the company's successful deployments with major cable operators and telecoms, and world class hotels and resorts including Westin and Sheraton. The company also delivers Wi-Fi coverage at high-profile locations including Lincoln Center in New York, the London Eye in the UK, and Dolphin Stadium in Miami.

Driven by the powerful, feature-rich BelAirOS operating system software and managed by BelView, BelAir Networks offers the industry's most comprehensive product portfolio with the highest capacity, lowest latency and fastest roaming speeds. Supporting Wi-Fi, WiMAX, 4.9 GHz Public Safety, 5.9 GHz ITS, and 4.4 GHz Military spectrum bands, the portfolio includes the new BelAir20 AP, the flagship four-radio BelAir200, the BelAir200D for Defense applications, the two and three-radio BelAir100, BelAir100T, BelAir100D, and BelAir100M, and the strand-mounted BelAir100S.

SOURCE: BelAir Networks