Narad Networks, a start-up based in Westford, Massachusetts, secured $17.5 million in financing from new and existing investors for its broadband access solutions. The equity financing was led by new investor Argo Global Capital and included support from existing investors Polaris Venture Partners, Sofinnova Venture Partners, Vertical Group, and General Catalyst.
Narad said its business broadband technology leverages the cable operators' existing hybrid fiber coax (HFC) networks to deliver competitively priced data and voice services to commercial customers including small to medium sized businesses (SMBs), enterprise customers, WiFi network operators, schools, and municipalities. http://www.naradnetworks.com
- Narad Networks is developing a "virtual fiber" architecture for delivering symmetrical, 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps Ethernet services over HFC networks. The architecture places Gigabit Ethernet switches at strategic points in the network. An Optical Network Distribution Switch (ONDS) located immediately next to a conventional optical node combines the signals below 860 MHz from the headend with Gigabit Ethernet signals from a headend router. The ONDS performs an optical-to-electrical conversion of Ethernet traffic selectively at 100 Mbps or 1 Gbps. A Network Distribution Switch (NDS) provides the functions of a distribution amplifier for signals below 860 MHz as well as trunk-to-trunk switching functions between the 1 Gbps Ethernet channels. Narad will also provide a subscriber access switch and a customer premise unit with Ethernet ports and a single coaxial interface for existing TV and cable modem services operating below 860 MHz.
