AS.NET products - enabling Wi-Fi access in metrozones and urban municipal networks

 

The AS.NET portfolio covers three product lines: link and backhaul applications, Wi-Fi Hotzones/municipal networks and specialist applications. FlexNET link products are targeted for point to point backhaul, both single and dual radio IP backhaul at 5.4/5.8GHz, as well as for extended link repeater deployments. FlexNET links can be conveniently used as backhaul network for Wi-Fi-Hotzones, or P-MP Broadband wireless.

 

FlexNET Wi-Fi Hotzone products include outdoor Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g) base stations and advanced network level features. RoamNET has unique IP mobility solution for L3 seamless handover for standard Wi-Fi clients (PDA's, Laptops, Smart Phones etc.). The RoamNET mobility solution integrates base station sites into larger wireless network infrastructures. ViaNET products offer specialised applications for urban transit systems with requirements for uninterrupted data traffic.

 

In summary, Airspan's AS.NET products have competitive advantages in both link and access features with Wi-Fi compatible OFDM radios.

 

Global Wi-Fi Market Opportunity

 

WLAN have made a major breakthrough as a new pervasive wireless broadband technology. New application areas such as large scale, outdoor Wi-Fi networks and municipal networks have shown valid proof-ofconcept. This technology area is also developing quickly and new applications are continuously being found. The New AS.NET product family represents the state of the art in professional Wi-Fi products for both outdoor and other demanding environments.

 

Very few technologies enjoy such globally harmonized and standardized market environment as IEEE 802.11 does today. Airspan Networks builds on this success of standard based technologies with the AS.NET Wi-Fi product family and related product solutions. Standardisation and interoperability of the large scale networks such as Wi-Fi Hotzones are key premises of competitive public access Wi-Fi services.

 

Concept: The AS.NET Wi-Fi Hotzone

 

AS.NET products were developed to provide a complete product range for the deployment of large scale outdoor networks. Many product features complement each other at the system level. AS.NET products provide a consistent and unified system solution for large scale outdoor networks. AS.NET Wi-Fi Hotzone is a system solution for the building and deployment of large scale outdoor Wi- Fi network. Wi-Fi Hotzone is a public access capable wireless broadband network deployment.

 

Business Models and Public services

 

Multiple business models can be utilised within the same Wi-Fi Hotzone infrastructure. Part of the services are provided and managed by ISP operators and service providers for both enterprises and individual end users. Target customer groups for Wi-Fi Hotzone services can be quite versatile. In a smaller rural cities and villages, one single service provider can host all major services. In more dense and urban environments the value chain and Metrozone ecosystem can be divided between multiple service providers. Wireless broadband access and Wi-Fi Hotzone network coverage can also be created as a public service and community offering the people low cost access to the Internet and public administration services. City wide Wi-Fi Hotzones are today's key technologies fit for the implementation of the converging fixed/mobile Internet services.

 

Technology for practical use from day 1

 

Wi-Fi technologies have reached level of standardisation and maturity which are required for the carrier and operator business models. Deployment of the the large scale Wi- Fi networks effectively help to share and distribute new access network solutions to reach customers. Outdoor Wi-Fi networks with AS.NET products enable provisioning of alternative services and business models such as fixed wireless access, nomadic access and mobile Wi-Fi access. All these usage models are available at the same time, with the same infrastructure which prove wireless broadband networks similarly flexible and versatile for different services as wired broadband technologies.

 

Applications from basic access networks to urban area municipal networks

 

The launch of wireless broadband Internet services presents a major technological step for many regions and local operators, as well as for the end users. Versatile deployment models of Wi-Fi Hotzone technologies show the maturity of the technology. Maturity is the key to the wide scale adoption and use of new technologies. Applications for a given Wi-Fi Hotzone depend on the market and target customers. Wi-Fi Hotzones can support all major service categories ranging from Internet access service provisioning, IP telephony, multimedia applications and interactive gaming. In less developed regions and areas large scale Wi-Fi networks can provide support for local telephony when end users can access network with their Wi-Fi phones. In more developed environments Wi-Fi Hotzone services can be developed to meet such demanding applications as backhaul to other access networks, or support for mobility and roaming services. To put it simply, municipal networks and large scale outdoor.

 

Benefits to end usersincreasing motivation for operators and carrier customers

 

End users continue to find more devices and applications which support Wi-Fi. This means that increasingly people find more uses for Wi-Fi technology and this makes related network equipment attractive for operators and service providers. Wi-Fi equipment markets are now driven by major customer groups such as households, enterprises and increasingly by individuals. AS.NET products are primarily targeted for professional users like network operators and infrastructure owners, their markets are driven by the demand coming from the end customers.

 

Enabling modular and stepwise deployment models for Wi-Fi Hotzones with AS.NET products

 

Every new operator has to start their deployment from some application. With the AS.NET product family, the first application might be a wireless link deployment, or a small size Wi-Fi Hotspot or Hotzone. For some industrial and vertical customer groups the first application might be a new type of wireless broadband enabled radio data link connection system for moving vehicles. All these application areas have similar technology base, AS.NET Wi-Fi products are standardised and can be easily used as parts of existing network systems with Ethernet and IP (Internet Protocol) interfaces. In the long term network deployments and usage models change and evolve, so network equipment needs to be scalable and flexible.