Aviat Networks Inc. has announced enhanced integrated Ethernet switching capabilities for its Eclipse Packet Node microwave transmission platform to address the rapid growth of mobile broadband data traffic. The enhanced platform was successfully tested by the European Advanced Networking Testing Center (EANTC) in August and subsequently demonstrated at the Carrier Ethernet World Congress (CEWC) in Warsaw, Poland at the end of September.

Mobile backhaul traffic continues to grow at a staggering pace globally driven by the proliferation of smart phones loaded with mobile data and video-intensive applications. As operators expand their backhaul networks to accommodate this surge, Ethernet-equipped microwave systems continue to serve a critical role.

Having pioneered Hybrid or Dual Native Ethernet/TDM microwave solutions since the introduction of the Eclipse nodal wireless platform in 2004, Aviat Networks continues to evolve its portfolio to address the demands of emerging 4G/LTE networks requiring advanced Ethernet scalability, quality of service, traffic management, synchronization over packet networks and related features, which are designed to provide a smooth migration path to ‘all-IP’ along with investment protection.

The company recently demonstrated the readiness of its enhanced platform by participating in EANTC's annual Carrier Ethernet interoperability test event, where Aviat Networks was part of a multivendor Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE) test conducted over a combined microwave-wireline network with several vendors including Cisco, Symmetricom, Calnex and MRV.

"Aviat Networks successfully completed testing of its latest Eclipse Packet Node solutions alongside 23 other vendors to demonstrate the viability of Ethernet microwave and SyncE for 3G and LTE mobile backhaul applications," said Carsten Rossenhovel, Managing Director of EANTC.