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| February 22, 2006 | Press Release |
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| Strix Chosen to Enable New-Generation Wireless Network in Bangladesh |
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| Portfolio Company: Strix Systems |
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Strix Wireless Mesh Will Enable New-Generation Wireless Voice/Data/Video Services in Commercial Capital With 3.5 Million People
CALABASAS, Calif., Feb. 22 -- Strix Systems, the leader in
high-performance wireless mesh networking, today announced that Accatel, Inc.,
an international carrier based in New York, has partnered with Nextel Telecom
(Bangladesh) to deploy a citywide wireless mesh network in Chittagong,
Bangladesh. The network is based on Strix's Access/One Network Outdoor
Wireless System (OWS), a multi-radio, multi-channel, and multi-RF mesh
solution that delivers the highest-capacity mesh system available today. The
Strix network will provide phone and Internet service to residential and
business customers in Chittagong.
Accatel is now installing 90 Strix OWS nodes for the initial network
deployment, which will support 10,000 voice subscriber lines in an
eight-square-mile area of Chittagong, a port city of 3.5 million people that
is the commercial capital of Bangladesh. Stage 2 of the deployment, which
will roll out 6-12 months after Stage 1, will add 15-20,000 voice subscriber
lines. Within three years, Accatel expects the Strix wireless mesh network
will employ hundreds of OWS nodes and serve an estimated 200,000 voice
subscriber lines. Ultimately, Accatel and Nextel Telecom plan to expand the
wireless mesh network to include all of Chittagong as well as other cities and
towns within the licensing area.
"We evaluated all types of WiFi, WiMAX, and mesh networks and found that
Strix has the most flexible, easy-to-deploy, redundant, low-latency, and
high-bandwidth solution available today," said Gregory Borodiansky, CTO of
Accatel. "In addition to being superior technically, Strix's solution is also
more reasonably priced."
"In developing countries such as Bangladesh, a reliable wireless mesh
network is a quick and cost-effective way to facilitate communications and
bring more citizens into the world economy," Yishai Shapir, CEO of Accatel.
"Strix's solution provides us with the right approach for the Chittagong
market, and the company has been extremely helpful in working with us on all
aspects of this new venture."
Service Unique in Employing SIP
"Strix's solution gives us the flexibility to deploy a robust network and
offer advanced services by running an IP-native network," said Greg Blumstein,
Executive Project Manager for Accatel. "Using SIP on top of the wireless mesh
enables us to offer services and features that carriers using traditional
wireless local loop solutions can't offer. The bandwidth available from
Strix's solution will allow us to deliver much higher speed Internet
connections to homes and businesses than our competitors."
Accatel employs Ethernet IP at the network core as well as throughout the
wireless network. Because Strix's wireless mesh network enables the use of
IP, the company can provide voice, data, and video service to subscribers in
areas that do not currently have phone service -- without building a
traditional communications infrastructure. As a result, the all-IP wireless
mesh network will be less expensive in initial deployment than an analog
network and will also reduce on-going operational costs.
"The ability to support an all-IP deployment in Chittagong really
distinguishes Strix's solution from those of its competitors," said Nan Chen,
Vice President of Marketing at Strix Systems. "We expect to see other
emerging markets also go straight to an all-IP Ethernet solution not only
because it's cost effective but also because they don't have to concern
themselves with maintaining compatibility with legacy copper-based
infrastructures."
Turnkey Solution for Local, National, and International Calls
Accatel is providing a complete turnkey solution that in addition to the
Strix OWS nodes includes a softswitch, IP infrastructure, and a billing
system; the company will also handle the operational and management aspects of
the network. Strix OWS nodes will be deployed at a central access hub, where
the wireless network connects to the Ethernet, while the rest of the OWS nodes
will be deployed through the network, radially from the hub. Local calls
placed on the Strix wireless mesh network will be sent to Strix nodes at the
hub and forwarded to the softswitch. The switch will forward local calls
through the Strix wireless mesh network and connect in-country calls to the
local PTT. Accatel is also developing and manufacturing its own CPE for
deployment at all subscriber locations in Chittagong.
In addition to being completely wireless, the installation will be
completely off the electric grid. To ensure the network will operate under
all conditions, the Strix nodes will run on batteries that can provide 4-6
days of power before being recharged. Solar panels will back up the
batteries.
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