NEW ORLEANS — Mesh networking specialist BelAir Networks outlined an architecture at the CTIA Wireless show it considers would be the best suited for mixing Wi-Fi, WiMAX and 3G cellular connections.
The so called Wireless Multi-service Architecture (WMSA) essentially builds on the company's existing Wi-Fi strategy and applies it to the interconnection of the other access technologies.
BelAir (Kanata, Ontario) says the architecture would allow network operators to deliver high quality voice, video and data services on a metropolitan scale using a mix of Wi-Fi, WiMAX and 3G cellular technologies.
The company's roadmap sees the emergence of a range of switches and routers with which carriers can offer seamless interconnection from Wi-Fi to WiMAX, and later cellular, without having to deploy a completely new network backbone each time.
Later this year, BelAir will offer WiMAX backhaul radio modules as options for its 200 and 100 series of switch routers. Initially, Wi-Fi and WiMAX will be integrated into a common system.
The aim is that once WiMAX gets more established on mobile client devices, the company will develop WiMAX access radio modules.
This will be based on WiMAX micro-cells that initially will be deployed for dense urban areas and will interconnect with WiMAX macro-cells through interoperable WiMAX point-to-point links.
Also at the show and related to such convergence, hotspot service provider Boingo Wireless said it has started working with Kyocera to develop handsets and software that will allow roaming between 802.11 and cellular networks.
The company would not say when the dual-mode phone would hit the market.
