AOptix outfits Puerto Rico company with millimeter wave and optical laser backhaul solution

AOptix has deployed a millimeter wave radio and optical laser solution for Global Service Solutions in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that will provide high-bandwidth backhaul for a wireless carrier customer of Global Service.

The AOptix solution provides speeds of 2 Gbps via both millimeter wave radio and optical laser. Distances can be covered up to 10 kilometers. The new link in San Juan spans a distance of 1.2 kilometers.

According to AOptix, fiber optics are routinely deployed for new backhaul, but fiber was not an option in this case, as the cell site is located in Old San Juan, a part of San Juan that has been designated as a National Historic Landmark District.

In an interview with FierceInstaller, AOptix VP of Marketing Christina Richards said that the hybrid solution provides redundancy as well as performance options that are less dependent on weather conditions. For example, laser optic solutions can be impacted by fog and millimeter-wave solutions can be impacted by rain.

AOptix is not the only equipment maker that provides high-bandwidth millimeter-wave solutions for backhaul. E-Band Communications, Ceragon and Siklu are among the companies providing gigabit-capable millimeter-wave equipment for cellular and small cell backhaul.

Richards told FierceInstaller that wireless backhaul is a major focus of AOptix's work, but she also indicated that the company is providing enterprise solutions.

Last fall, IHS produced a report about the millimeter wave equipment market. The firm estimated that the millimeter wave equipment market would grow to $755 million in 2018, with the outdoor small cell backhaul segment growing at a 101 percent CAGR between 2013 and 2018.

For more:
- see this release

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