Transatlantic cooperation has brought together ip.access Ltd., based in Cambridge, UK, and BelAir Networks of Kanata, Ontario, Canada, who have announced the integration of BelAir’s wireless mesh backhaul solution with ip.access’ nanoBTS picocells. The combined low cost, easy-to-install GSM/GPRS base station and wireless backhaul solution offers cellular operators savings in both deployment costs and operating expenses.
Through this integration the two companies have created a new way of delivering enhanced indoor and outdoor coverage and capacity for dense urban environments. This approach eliminates the need for the T1/E1 leased lines that have traditionally been used for backhaul in cellular networks, resulting in a cost-effective solution. The combined system is capable of serving hundreds of cellular sites wirelessly from a single broadband-wired point of presence, offering significant operational cost savings.
“ip.access picocells, integrated with our wireless mesh backhaul system, provide mobile network operators with the most economic means of deploying more smaller cell sites in a carrier-grade form factor that mounts on streetlights and blends into the urban background,” said Dave Park, associate vice president, product management, BelAir Networks. “We are pleased to work with ip.access to bring cellular access capabilities to the BelAir product platform.”
Mark Pittick, vice president of sales and marketing, ip.access, responded by adding, “This new integration with the BelAir mesh network presents an exciting way for operators to offer the benefits of picocell-based cellular coverage in areas such as city streets where it was not cost-effective before.”