Making the Most of Metro Wi-FI Networks from Home
Over the past few years there has been dramatic growth in the number of metro Wi-Fi networks being deployed. The market is still in the early stages, but it is clear that many more cities and service providers will embark on metro Wi-Fi projects. Although the 802.11 standard was initially intended as a short range indoor technology, the tremendous success of Wi-Fi and the availability of low cost client devices led to this expanded use of the technology. Early metro Wi-Fi networks have already demonstrated that the technology will work on a city-wide scale.
Wi-Fi networks deliver enough bandwidth to support multiple applications and most metro Wi-Fi networks can support several different applications with different security and Quality of Service (QoS) policies on the same physical network. Typically a network is installed to support a single application and then grows to support additional applications and services over time.
Clearly one of the most important applications for city wide Wi-Fi networks is residential broadband. Service providers and cities are using unlicensed Wi-Fi to deliver broadband to the home as an alternative to DSL or broadband over cable. Wi-Fi is an attractive broadband solution because the infrastructure cost is lower. It is not necessary to bring a wire to each subscriber and Wi-Fi uses unlicensed frequencies, so it is also lower cost than wireless broadband based on cellular technology.
About Ruckus Wireless
Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Ruckus Wireless is supplier of advanced wireless systems for the mobile Internetworking market. The company markets and manufactures a wide range of indoor and outdoor “Smart Wi-Fi” products for mobile operators, broadband service providers and corporate enterprises around the world. Since 2006, the company has realized record revenue and shipments with a CAGR of over 119% percent. Ruckus invented, and has patented, state-of-the-art wireless technology that steers Wi-Fi signals around obstacles and interference. This unique capability extends signal range and ensures consistent reliable distribution of delay-sensitive multimedia content and services over standard 802.11 Wi-Fi. The company has shipped over 2 million Smart Wi-Fi systems around the world and has raised $51 million in funding from premier investors such as Sequoia Capital, Focus Ventures, Sutter Hill, Motorola, T-Ventures, Telus Ventures and Firelake Capital. The company is led by Ms. Selina Lo, president and chief executive officer. For more information, visit Ruckus Wireless at http://www.ruckuswireless.com.
