WASHINGTON, USA: Rather than debating the relative merits of licensed vs. license-free wireless spectrum, many cable operators worldwide are now in an ideal position to leverage both to deliver high-performance mobile broadband wireless services to business and residential customers.

BelAir Networks, the market leader in service provider WLAN, has announced the BelAir100SX, the industry’s first dual mode WiMAX/WiFi wireless node optimized for deployment on existing cable infrastructure, including aerial plant, pedestal, cabinet and vault mounting options.

BelAir Networks, already deployed in the largest and most advanced consumer WiFi networks in North America and Europe, was first to market with both FCC-approved WiMAX mesh nodes (based on 802.16d) and strand-mounted WiFi nodes optimized for cable operators.

The latest innovation, the new BelAir100SX, leverages the company’s modular architecture to combine the functions of a mobile WiMAX 802.16e base station, a WiFi access point, and a DOCSIS Ò cable modem in one compact, ruggedized product that integrates with existing cable infrastructure for mounting, power and backhaul. This micro-cellular approach provides better coverage, bandwidth and spectrum utilization while eliminating many of the time-consuming and costly issues associated with traditional macro-cellular tower and rooftop deployments, including site acquisition and provisioning of backhaul.

“Cable operators are well positioned to increase subscriber retention and revenues by adding mobility to their current triple play bundles,” said Berge Ayvazian, Chief Strategy Officer, Yankee Group. “With the modular, dual mode and cable-ready BelAir100SX node, BelAir Networks has made it faster, more economical and less risky for cable operators to capitalize on the complementary nature of licensed and license-free wireless technology associated with large scale wireless network deployments.”

Driven by the BelAirOS operating system and BelView network management used throughout the company’s award-winning portfolio, the BelAir100SX also supports seamless integration with the cable operator’s back office infrastructure to facilitate service provisioning and bundling, ease deployment and operation, and reduce network commissioning and upgrade costs. The BelAir Networks portfolio, including the new BelAir100SX, utilizes a modular architecture, enabling any combination of licensed and license-free spectrum – currently including WiFi, WiMAX, 4.9 GHz Public Safety, 5.9 GHz ITS and 4.4 GHz military bands – to be supported simultaneously on one network deployment. This modular architecture also protects the network investment by enabling a migration path to future technologies such as LTE and ‘whitespace’.

“BelAir Networks has been working with cable operators for years, helping them deploy everything from hotel and campus hotspots to large-scale community hot zones, so we understand how to integrate seamlessly with their network and business operations and support their long-term network evolution,” said Dave Park, VP, Product Marketing, BelAir Networks. “BelAir Networks has always been differentiated by our carrier-grade technology, modular architecture, and customer-focused innovation – the BelAir100SX is the latest proof of that commitment.”

BelAir Networks #1 market share for the last six quarters is a result of the company's successful deployments with major cable and telecom operators, and world class hotels and resorts including Westin, Sheraton and Hyatt. The company also delivers WiFi coverage at high-profile locations including Lincoln Center in New York, the London Eye in the UK, and Dolphin Stadium in Miami and in ship to shore applications for the US Navy.