KANATA, O.N. -- Wireless mesh leader, BelAir Networks, today announced Release 5.0 of their innovative metro scale wireless product family. The newest release enhances the delivery of differentiated voice, video and data services. More than 100 BelAir mesh networks are deployed worldwide.

“From the first release, BelAir products have been built on a carrier-grade switched mesh architecture designed for voice,” said Bernard Herscovich, CEO, BelAir Networks. “Our service provider customers tell us that voice support is key to building a strong business case for metro Wi-Fi deployments. With our new system release we now provide the tools that cable operators, cellular carriers and other service providers need to deliver the ‘Quad Play’ – voice, video, data and mobility – to business and residential customers.”

BelAir’s carrier-grade architecture supports seamless delivery of IP Multi-Media Services (IMS) and Voice over IP (VoIP) from the edge of a city-wide wireless mesh to the core of the wired internet. The most comprehensive wireless mesh product line now uniquely delivers commercial voice services and data on city-wide Wi-Fi networks.

“Wireless mesh systems are really two networks -- the access network that supports standard Wi-Fi clients and the wireless backhaul system that interconnects the nodes in the mesh,” said Stephen Rayment, CTO, BelAir Networks. “Advances such as 802.11e improve our ability to support voice calls on the access side, but they must be combined with a switched mesh architecture and QoS on the wireless backhaul network in order to deliver the benefits of mixed voice and data throughout the whole system. Release 5.0 integrates access and backhaul QoS -- unlocking the potential of our switched mesh architecture. It enables us to deliver commercial quality Voice over Wi-Fi and other prioritized traffic such as video on a metro scale.”

In a separate release:

KANATA, O.N. -- The rapidly growing city of Waterloo, Ontario, now enjoys a BelAir Networks wireless mesh network to provide high-quality wireless broadband services to residents and businesses in the Uptown Waterloo business district. Known for its spirit of innovation and entrepreneurial enthusiasm, Waterloo is part of Canada's Technology Triangle. The move puts Waterloo in the select company of forward-thinking North American cities with wireless internet access available throughout their core areas.

The Waterloo network provides high speed internet access, VoIP and other broadband services to the city, easily and cost-effectively, using a combination of 29 BelAir100 and BelAir200 dual and multi-radio wireless mesh switches. Installed and maintained by BelAir partner Atria Networks, one of the largest utility-owned telecommunications corporations in the province, the network can scale to provide additional support based on future demand, an important advantage for the rapidly growing city of 110,000 residents.

“The City of Waterloo is known for its entrepreneurial energy and innovation. The Wi-Fi Zone gives us new ways to continue to encourage business and offer new services to our citizens. In fact, many of the local UpTown businesses made a commitment to the wireless initiative before it was even built,” stated Waterloo Mayor Herb Epp.

As the provider of wireless networks, Atria Networks has a history of success in the city. Atria offers Wi-Fi in the University area, at the Waterloo International Airport and at public libraries in the region. The new municipal network covers the mall, convention center, City Hall and the business district. The BelAir mesh wirelessly extends Atria’s existing fiber network as an alternative mobile solution which delivers services such as VoIP and broadband internet access to residences and businesses. Atria also offers wireless service with BelAir at the local Waterloo Starbucks. BelAir has provided wireless access to the Waterloo Inn for more than a year.

“Wireless high-speed Internet opens the door to a host of applications but first and foremost it provides the UpTown businesses and visitors to the area with simple, affordable, and mobile Internet access,” said Steve McCartney, President and CEO of Atria Networks.

BelAir Networks Inc.