CBNL and Straight Path to bring 39GHz licensed point-to-multipoint to major US cities
- CBNL to develop new 39GHz platform that will be complemented by Straight Path’s US nationwide 39GHz holdings
- Agreement to offer US carriers combined product/spectrum solution for licensed point-to-multipoint backhaul and enterprise access
Cambridge Broadband Networks (CBNL), the global market leader in licensed point-to-multipoint (PMP), has today announced an agreement with Straight Path Communications Inc. (NYSE MKT:STRP) (Straight Path), a communications asset company, to launch a combined 39GHz product/spectrum solution that widens US coverage of the most cost effective form of carrier-grade backhaul and enterprise access.
The agreement will provide a seamless offering of Straight Path’s nationwide 39GHz spectrum assets, which cover each of the 175 licensed US economic areas, with a new 39GHz variant of CBNL’s VectaStar® licensed PMP platform.
The 39GHz VectaStar platform is being developed in CBNL’s R&D Center of Excellence in Cambridge, UK, and signifies the company’s expansion into millimeter wave.
The new solution will enable CBNL and Straight Path to provide access to licensed PMP across every major city in the US – offering carriers a high capacity licensed link at almost half the cost of common carrier point-to-point (PTP).
The agreement comes amidst exceptionally strong market demand for CBNL’s VectaStar in the US, driven by its ability to offer up to 13.2Gb/s per hub site, up to 12 miles range and up to 50 percent total cost of ownership (TCO) savings compared to PTP.
Since launching in the 28GHz LMDS band in late 2014, VectaStar has been quickly adopted by carriers and is already deployed across six states, including New York, California and Texas.
With Straight Path owning an average of over 800MHz of spectrum in the 30 largest cities in the US, 39GHz licensed PMP enables multiple operators to expand backhaul coverage of next generation services, such as LTE, carrier-grade enterprise access, small cells and 5G.
As common carrier spectrum becomes increasingly congested, costly and complicated to acquire, the 39GHz VectaStar solution will provide carriers with a highly economical business case to transform network performance and launch new services that are essential to their growth.
The VectaStar 39GHz platform is expected to be launched to the US market in the summer of 2016.
Chief Executive Officer at CBNL said:
“CBNL is delighted to partner with Straight Path on this exciting project. We have deployed many successful networks with Straight Path in the 28GHz LMDS band in the past year and the new 39GHz solution is a natural evolution of our partnership.
"By offering up to 50 percent TCO savings, up to 550Mb/s per link and up to 13.2Gb/s per hub site, we look forward to supporting more carriers across the US with a transformational business case for backhaul and enterprise access.
"With customers in 43 countries, including seven of the world’s top ten largest mobile operators, this latest initiative is set to mark the next phase of CBNL’s growth.”
Davidi Jonas, Chief Executive Officer of Straight Path, commented:
“Partnering with CBNL is an excellent fit for Straight Path. Our nationwide 39GHz licensed spectrum (which cover 95 percent of the FCC active area), together with CBNL’s best-in-class technology, offer carriers a highly attractive business case that is not available with other technologies.
"With deep coverage of 39GHz across all major US cities, this project holds the key for carriers to cost effectively roll out the high capacity services their customers demand.
"It has been clear for some time that the existing spectrum landscape in the US must evolve to manage the huge demand for next generation services.
"This landmark project will play a significant role in supporting the continued growth of LTE and carrier-grade enterprise access, while laying the foundations for high capacity small cell and 5G backhaul.”