News Briefs – Monday, July 17, 2006
Strix Wi-Fi network deployed in Kenya
Kenya Data Networks selected Strix’s Access/One Network wireless communications systems to create a Wi-Fi service throughout the Kenyan cities of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret, which have a combined population of more than 4 million. The chassis-based mesh system provides large capacity, high throughput and low latency to support voice, video and data applications, according to Strix. It will run in tandem with Kenya Data’s Butterfly service, which allows standalone palmtop, notebook, laptop and desktop computers with Wi-Fi capability to remotely connect to the network.
Satellite network communications available to first responders, enterprises
SES Americom announced its REDiSat Network is now available for first responders, emergency-management professionals and private enterprises in the financial, manufacturing, retail and oil and gas industries. The system is capable of variable-bandwidth management and allocates satellite bandwidth as needed to respond to disasters and other emergency situations, according to the company. It is built on a TDM/TDMA architecture, which enables multiple users to share a pool of Ku-bandwidth set aside for REDiSat subscribers on the AMC-6 satellite.
Indiana hospital invests in wireless network
Hancock Regional Hospital in Greenfield, Ind., will deploy Extreme Networks’ Unified Access solution, which includes BlackDiamond 8810 switches, the Summit WM series of switches and Altitude Access Points, for an integrated wireless and wired network infrastructure throughout the 106-bed facility.
Virginia Tech develops wireless research group
Virginia Tech created Wireless @ Virginia Tech, one of the largest wireless research groups in the United States. The research group is comprised of eight other interdisciplinary centers, groups and laboratories, including the Center for Wireless Telecommunications, the Mobile and Portable Radio Research Group and the Virginia Tech Antenna Group. Twenty-seven faculty members and 100 graduate students will focus on wireless research in hopes of developing innovative technologies and improving existing technologies, such as cognitive radios used by emergency personnel to communicate even when they are operating on different systems, according to the university.
Paint-on antenna has promise
A consortium of public and private organizations have partnered to develop and test a new-generation of paint-on antenna technology for communications and other applications. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Langley Research Center, RTI International, Applied EM, International Communications Group, Unitech, Sierra Nevada Corp. and Techsphere Systems International tested the antenna aboard the SA-60 Spherical Airship in the Nevada desert this past June. The tests were successful, according to the companies, noting the antennas transmitted and received voice and data links from the global Iridium satellite systems and overall radio frequency performance was “outstanding.”
Companies partner on WLAN solutions
AirTight Networks, a provider of wireless intrusion and prevention management solutions, and Extricom, a designer and manufacturer of WLAN infrastructure solutions, have agreed to co-market each other’s solutions to the enterprise market. AirTight’s solutions detect and classify wireless threats, prevent multiple threats and locate threats so they can be removed. Extricom’s WLAN system architecture offers a channel-blanket topology, which creates extended zones of coverage to every available radio channel by using channels at all access points controlled by the switch, according to the company.
