GERMANTOWN, Md. -- Hughes Network Systems, Inc. (HNS), the world's leading provider of broadband satellite and wireless access systems, announced today it has formalized a Frame Agreement with major European telecommunications company, Wind Telecomunicazioni S.p.A., to deploy the AIReach® Broadband 9000 wireless access system nationwide in Italy. Wind will use the AIReach 26 GHz system in both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint configurations for the backhauling of second- and third-generation cellular networks and for Small/Medium Enterprise (SME) last-mile access.
Wind is one of the leading service providers in Europe with more than 30 million customers (9.2 million cellular users, 7.5 million landline clients, and 13.9 million Internet subscribers).
According to Wind, the selection of HNS for the nationwide Local Multipoint Distribution System (LMDS) was determined by the scalability and adaptability of the AIReach broadband platform. Also, the AIReach system has proven to be compatible and efficient for backhaul with GSM and UMTS base stations from all Wind infrastructure suppliers. The choice of HNS provides WIND with state-of-the-art LMDS technology at a very competitive price.
"We are very pleased to have been selected as Wind's supplier for 26 GHz broadband wireless systems. Wind has ambitious plans for deploying broadband wireless solutions across all of Italy. With the AIReach wireless access system, they will be able to fulfill their plans," said Dario Mulassano, senior director of sales in HNS Europe's Rome office.
In addition to the provision of AIReach broadband base stations and terminal stations, the contract also includes network planning, implementation, project management, and other network services. These will be provided by Sirti, a leading Italian company in the area of professional network services. "Sirti is proud to have been selected by HNS to provide a variety of network services for such an important customer as Wind and to contribute to the success of this project," said Giuseppe Triolo, Sirti's sales director.
The AIReach system implemented in a point-to-point configuration can easily be converted to multipoint simply by changing the base station antenna from a narrow-beam antenna focused on one remote site to a 90-degree antenna capable of connecting to dozens of remote sites.
"The HNS solution was selected by Wind following a rigorous technical and economic evaluation of bids from at least eight major microwave and broadband wireless suppliers," according to Tom Hsu, senior vice president and general manager of the Broadband Carrier Networks division at HNS.
Hughes Network Systems Inc.
Wind Telecomunicazioni SpA