Posted: 03rd Jul, 2008 By: MarkJ
The UK's largest Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) provider,
On-Communications (O-C), has adopted the new generation wide-area
WiMAX broadband wireless technology.
Airspan Networks will supply the new network, which will be used to replaced the ISPs existing infrastructure and in any future expansion.
On-Communications provides broadband wireless business-to-business Internet Services that offer a guaranteed bandwidth with performance similar to a dedicated leased line, but at lower costs with greater bandwidth flexibility during busy times.
Following extensive trials, all new base station deployments will use Airspans MicroMAX technology, while existing networks will be replaced with equipment compliant to the
WiMAX standard. On-Communications has already deployed a FWA network in London, Sheffield, Manchester, Leeds and Oxford, making them the largest FWA ISP in the UK:
Ian Roberts, CEO, On-Communications, commented,
On-Communications investigation proved Airspan to have the best, most mature WiMAX technology solution. Airspans technology offers differential service possibilities, such as flexible service profiles, multiple service classes for various traffic types, and smart QoS for VoIP that make it the ideal technology platform from which to support UK businesses. After detailed lab and field evaluations, we feel that WiMAX is now truly ready for prime time deployment. We are proud and excited to be teaming with Airspan to lead the market in providing this service.
David Brant, CFO of Airspan, added:
We are delighted that, after such a detailed evaluation, On-Communications has chosen Airspan as its preferred technology partner. We are pleased that On-Communications considers Airspan as a valuable and trustworthy supplier and we look forward to working closely with On-Communications as they expand their network.
Airspan's
WiMAX kit has also been used by other UK FWA ISPs, including FREEDOM4 (
news) and the Isle of Wight based cable provider, Wight Cable (
news). The
WiMAX Forum recently began certifying the first 2.5GHz Mobile
WiMAX Products (
news).