DragonWave, a start-up based in Ottawa, Canada, gained FCC approval for its point-to-point broadband wireless solution for the unlicensed 24 GHz (ISM) band. DragonWave's AirPair 100 point-to-point wireless solution delivers 100 Mbps service over distances of up to 30 km without repeaters using this unlicensed band. DragonWave said the newly available 24 GHz band would remain relatively interference free compared to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz unlicensed because this public spectrum band has been set aside for point-to-point radio links and will not be used for everyday consumer devices such as microwave ovens, garage door openers or cordless phones. The DragonWave solution could be used for Ethernet access services with 802.1q VLAN tagging or as a wireless backhaul for other network services. The DragonWave AirPair products can be configured, calibrated and aligned in a matter of hours using a custom PDA tool.
TowerStream, a privately held provider of high-speed wireless Internet access, has deployed DragonWave's 24 GHz solution as the core link between its radio towers and one of its Boston Network Access Points. TowerStream delivers T-1 and up Internet access to commercial bandwidth users.
http://www.dragonwaveinc.com
- DragonWave was founded in February 2000 and has raised $39 million (Canadian) to date. The company has 72 employees. Investors include Enterprise Partners, Celtic House, Investor's Group, Venture Coaches, EDB Singapore, VentureLink Capital and others.
- DragonWave's founding team came out of Newbridge Networks, where they had developed the first generation of LMDS "wireless ATM" radio systems.
- DragonWave's first products shipped in March 2001 and entered commercial service in September 2001. The point-to-point platform can operate in 18 to 32 GHz spectrum worldwide. In addition to the 100 Mbps platform, DragonWave offers a Gigabit fixed wireless solution.
- Announced customers include Telecom Ottawa, the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission, Quad Cities and Navigata Communications.
