HELSINKI -- InspiAir, Ltd., an Israel-based developer of wireless solutions, announced today that a municipal broadband Wi-Fi system in Helsinki’s central core is now in full operation. Dubbed “FiFiWiFi,” the InspiAir-designed network was deployed in co-operation with Helsinki-based Omni-Directional Communication Products Oy (OCP).

InspiAir’s technology—so revolutionary it was once thought to defy the laws of physics—has proven superior to the popular mesh systems being deployed in other metropolitan areas. Not only does InspiAir’s system get high marks for performance, it is also more cost-effective.

InspiAir’s technology is fully Wi-Fi 802.11 compliant and as such, laptops and other devices with 802.11 cards can easily access the network without special downloads or adapters.

OCP selected InspiAir to construct the central city wireless network after rejecting conventional mesh systems. OCP’s analysis indicated that deploying a mesh system would be extremely costly due to the large number of nodes required to provide continuous broadband Wi-Fi coverage in Helsinki’s city center. Furthermore, installation and maintenance of the mesh nodes would add complexity and greater cost.

OCP wanted to provide Helsinki residents and visitors with a ubiquitous, full triple-play solution of broadband wireless voice, video and data over IP—and make it available to both stationary users and people on the move. The mesh systems they considered were simply not up to this challenge.

Furthermore, an assortment of public and private Wi-Fi systems already operating in the city blanket the area with RF (radio frequency) transmissions, creating significant interference (which will only increase in time as more and more Wi-Fi systems are deployed). Typically traditional Wi-Fi networks exhibit sensitivity to RF interference, so the channel planning that would be required to overcome this interference proved extremely daunting, if not impossible.

“The deciding factor in choosing InspiAir,” said OCP co-founder and COO Peter Tapio, “was the company’s ability to provide a system that’s totally immune to interference from nearly a thousand access points in the downtown area. The InspiAir technology is not bothered by these other access points at all.”

InspiAir’s system uses a unique, internally developed, 802.11-compliant algorithm: Virtual Transmission Manager (VTM) technology. VTM dramatically extends the range of 802.11 transmissions, allowing an InspiAir system to cover large areas using far fewer access points than mesh systems. In Helsinki, only 14 access points were required, each providing 60-degree sector directional coverage. The distance covered by an InspiAir access point is about one mile (1.6 km) in near-line-of-sight situations in highly dense central Helsinki, and much greater in open areas.

In addition to being cost-effective, InspiAir’s VTM technology also provides greater performance. The average system-wide latency is typically less than 7 milliseconds. This enables real-time triple-play applications such as voice, video, data and true mobility. Customers can enjoy using laptops, PDAs and SIP-based mobile phones even while wandering about the city center.

Throughput speeds are equal to 802.11 standards, or about 6 Mbps per access point. For mobile users traveling in cars or via public transportation, there is a 5- to 7-millisecond handoff time between access points. During handoffs, there is no packet loss, allowing uninterrupted use of real-time applications like VoIP and video for users on the move.

“We have found that since installing the InspiAir technology, we are getting far greater distances, much higher speeds and more consistent connections than we ever experienced with other Wi-Fi systems,” said Tapio. “InspiAir’s technology not only goes farther, it enables Wi-Fi to penetrate buildings more than any system we’ve seen using mesh technology. In addition, since frequency planning is not required, the network is completely scalable, allowing for immediate expansion by simply adding more access points.”

InspiAir’s technology permitted OCP to install the wireless network and provide Wi-Fi coverage for Helsinki’s city center at a considerably reduced cost as opposed to a comparable mesh system. Due to its ease of installation and fewer access points, the network was deployed in a matter of days. And because of the cost-effectiveness of the system, OCP is able to charge very competitive rates for the service, ranging from $2.70 per day (2 euros) to $20 per month (15 euros).

As a result of the successful deployment of the Helsinki city center network, OCP will continue to work with InspiAir as it extends Wi-Fi coverage to neighboring cities in Finland.

“We are proud to be the selected system for OCP and to have InspiAir be the first to provide large scale municipal coverage in Europe,” said Tamir Galili, InspiAir CEO. “Helsinki, with its modern population, tough climate and difficult indoor environment—not to mention being the home of one of the largest communications company in the world—has very high requirements, which InspiAir is happy to meet and exceed. We are looking forward to supporting OCP in its expansion plans in Helsinki and other major cities.”

InspiAir Ltd.