Lucent Technologies has announced the availability of its new WaveACCESS high-speed (11 Mbit/s), point-to-point and point-to-multipoint outdoor wireless networking systems for large corporate complexes, campuses and local Internet Service Providers (ISP).
According to Gerard Glanville, distribution director at Lucent`s Enterprise Networks sub-Saharan Africa division, WaveACCESS is a reliable and economical alternative to leasing phone lines or running cables between buildings. Operating in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz band, it provides a range of up to 10 miles and various levels of security encryption (64-bit WEP and 128 bit RC4).
"It provides both IP Routing and bandwidth management that enables network managers to fully control their wireless networks and to easily add wireless technology to their campus wide network infrastructure. By using IP Routing, multiple local area networks in different buildings can be connected, using differing IP-subnets. This enables managers to connect and set up secure, separate interconnected wireless networks."
Bandwidth management enables network managers to allocate bandwidth to certain networks, ensuring that the appropriate bandwidth is provided as needed to the various buildings in a campus or facility. For example, large offices with many users will get more bandwidth, small offices with fewer users could be allocated less.
The point-to-multipoint WaveACCESS system consists of the Central Office Router that can connect up to 16 WaveACCESS Remote Office routers and associated networks, or 32 WaveACCESS PC Card radios per channel, each running the Internet Client software (Up to 3 separate 11Mbit/s channels are possible).
By installing WaveACCESS Internet Client software on the WaveACCESS radio card, ISPs can provide wireless Internet access to their residential customer`s Windows 95, 98, Windows 2000 or NT desktop or laptop computers. In addition, a networked Remote Office Router can be connected to yet another Central Office Router, thereby creating another set of point-to-multipoint links.
The point-to-point WaveACCESS system consists of WaveACCESS Remote Office Routers used to establish a high-speed, wireless link between two buildings and their interior networks. WaveACCESS Office Routers are based on Lucent Technologies` industry standard WavePOINT II, which also supports wired Ethernet and wireless WaveLAN indoor networks via a dual slot architecture. One slot holds a WaveACCESS radio card connected to an outdoor antenna. The other slot can act as a link to a third building. A wired network can be connected via Ethernet to the Remote Office Router as well.
"We are offering a high performance, highly secure point to multi-point system for enterprises and ISP`s," says Glanville. "The system is fast to deploy and scalable so our customers can expand the network quickly and easily as business demands." Existing WaveACCESS and WaveLAN users can upgrade their WavePOINT-II to WaveACCESS Office Routers by installing WaveACCESS Central or Remote Office Router software and using a new 11 Mbit/s WaveACCESS radio card in an available radio slot. WaveACCESS Remote Office Routers can also be converted to WaveACCESS Central Office Routers via a software upgrade.
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