ADC And E-Band Communications Partner On Millimeter-Wave Transmission Solution

Minneapolis and San Diego -- ADC and E-Band Communications Corp., developer of multi-gigabit capacity wireless communication systems based on 71 to 86 GHz millimeter wave radio technology, announced that they have entered into a multi-year, global wireless technology agreement. Under terms of the agreement, ADC will market E-Band's next generation Millimeter Wave (MMW) Transmission product as the FlexWave MMW, a member of ADC's new FlexWave family of All-IP Radio Access Network (RAN) solutions. ADC also will develop additional wireless solutions based on E-Band's core technology.

Founded in 2003, E-Band Communications is a privately held corporation that develops ultra-high capacity wireless communications systems for the 70/80 GHz e-band spectrum utilizing leading-edge RF Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) technology and providing best-in-class link performance. ADC holds a minority interest in the company.

The FlexWave MMW, which will be featured at CTIA Wireless 2007 (Booth #4079) in Orlando, Fla., March 27 - 29, is a point-to-point millimeter wave transmission system that operates in licensed 71 GHz to 86 GHz spectrum and provides fiber-speed, wireless Line of Sight (LOS) communications links within a 1 to 6 km range. With this system, wireless service providers can solve last-mile, access bottleneck problems by connecting enterprises to fiber networks, and enabling the backhaul of mobile (3G/4G) and fixed wireless (WiFi, WiMAX) networks.

ADC's All-IP RAN solution, announced earlier this week, offers a flexible, scalable platform that delivers coverage and capacity where needed over a single transport network to customers anytime, anywhere to deliver the feature-rich wireless applications they demand. The FlexWave All-IP RAN provides an integrated solution for converged indoor and outdoor coverage, ensuring wireless operators that their customers are always connected. FlexWave MMW is a natural and integral part of the FlexWave platform providing a cost-effective backhaul alternative that enables quick time-to-market coverage and capacity solutions where most needed.

"Millimeter wavelength technologies offer an exciting opportunity for low-cost, high-speed licensed wireless links and we're pleased to partner with E-Band Communications to provide this solution as part of our new FlexWave product portfolio," said Hilton Nicholson, president of the Active Infrastructure Business Unit for ADC. "Wireless operators are under great pressure to reduce their operating expenses. The increase in wireless data applications creates the need for economical, high-speed backhaul solutions. FlexWave MMW provides a reliable, cost-effective alternative to wired backhaul solutions."

According to Infonetics Research, Inc., an international market research group, the worldwide mobile IP backhaul equipment market is expected to grow 37 percent annually to $1.1 billion in 2009.

"This agreement further strengthens our relationship with ADC and expands its wireless portfolio with leading-edge products like FlexWave MMW," said Sam Smookler, CEO and co-founder of E-Band Communications. "This new technology enables ADC's customers and other wireless operators to address the increasing shortage of metro access capacity by taking advantage of the recently available licensed 71 to 86 GHz spectrum."

FlexWave MMW provides fiber-equivalent performance, 99.999 reliability and security, without the high installation costs and delays associated with inter-building fiber installations. This product can be engineered to operate in close proximity to other systems so that many operations can co-exist in the same vicinity without causing interference to one another.

SOURCE: ADC