11:00 AM Bel-Air node matches Docsis with WiMax and WiFi

Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor

April 1, 2009

1 Min Read
Doing Double Duty

11:00 AM -- WASHINGTON -- The Cable Show -- As some MSOs mull whether to go in with a wireless strategy that leverages WiMax or WiFi, BelAir Networks Inc. evidently thinks the answer should be: Why not go with both?

That thinking has spawned the 100SX, a dual-mode WiMax 802.16e base station/WiFi wireless access point that speaks cable's Docsis language, and can be installed on aerial plant or inside network pedestals and cabinets. And the company claims the modular nature of the device allows for an upgrade to Long-Term Evolution (LTE).

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With the Docsis component, BelAir is obviously targeting this to MSOs as they figure out their mobile broadband strategies and decide which licensed and license-free technologies they might want to use.

The vendor hasn't listed out who its present stable of cable customers are, but it's believed to be involved in Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC)'s aggressive WiFi deployment, and could be factoring into Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK)'s more limited WiFi activities, as well. (See Cablevision Plays WiFi Card , Comcast Gives WiFi a Try , and Comcast WiMaxes Portland.)

BelAir VP of product marketing Dave Park says the vendor has deployments with eight of the top 10 U.S. cable MSOs.

He says MSOs are eager to tap into licensed spectrum services (with WiMax or LTE) as well as the massive WiFi device pool. "We view them as very complementary technologies," Park says, noting that MSO input spurred BelAir's dual-mode product strategy.

He says trials involving the 100SX are underway, and some commercial deployments could emerge later this year.

— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Cable Digital News

About the Author(s)

Jeff Baumgartner

Senior Editor, Light Reading

Jeff Baumgartner is a Senior Editor for Light Reading and is responsible for the day-to-day news coverage and analysis of the cable and video sectors. Follow him on X and LinkedIn.

Baumgartner also served as Site Editor for Light Reading Cable from 2007-2013. In between his two stints at Light Reading, he led tech coverage for Multichannel News and was a regular contributor to Broadcasting + Cable. Baumgartner was named to the 2018 class of the Cable TV Pioneers.

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