Cambridge Broadband Networks delivers on 4G for O2

VectaStar multipoint microwave technology provides key backhaul element for UK’s largest LTE trial network

Cambridge, UK, 15 November 2011: Cambridge Broadband Networks, the British company leading the world in the development of next generation mobile backhaul technologies, today announced that its VectaStar multipoint microwave equipment will be backhauling LTE data as a key element of O2’s trial 4G network. The superfast network, operating over 40 square kilometres in high traffic areas of Central London is designed to deliver mobile data speeds equivalent to the fastest fixed line connection.

The Vectastar multipoint microwave backhaul technology, a significant advance on traditional microwave technologies, mirrors the network configuration found in the radio access network (the interface between cell tower and mobile handset), and allows O2 to backhaul mobile traffic from multiple cell towers to a single aggregation point. This fundamental change in backhaul network architecture delivers significant advantages in terms of cost and efficiency, particularly for next generation mobile.

Graham Peel, CEO of Cambridge Broadband Networks said: “LTE networks offer enormous promise for mobile operators and the consumers they serve but the huge volumes of data traffic they are capable of generating, demand a new approach to backhaul. It is a challenge we designed our VectaStar solutions to meet – in addition to delivering the raw capacity requirement for LTE, the efficiency gains inherent in multipoint microwave can significantly reduce the cost per megabyte.”

Cambridge Broadband Networks is one of the fastest growing microwave companies in the world, evidenced by the company’s inclusion in the Sunday Times Tech Track 100 in each of the last three years. Its VectaStar equipment is being used to backhaul most of the sites involved in the London 4G trial. O2’s 4G trial will use the 2.6 GHz spectrum band. VectaStar will use the available 28 GHz band.

During the trial O2 will provide participants with Samsung B3730 mobile broadband dongles, supporting speeds of up to 100Mbps, and well as personal Wi-Fi hotspot devices and handsets from a number of other vendors.

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About Cambridge Broadband Networks

Cambridge Broadband Networks provides telecommunications operators with carrier-class wireless point-to-multipoint transmission equipment. The company’s unique approach to backhaul means that its technology provides operators with a highly compelling business case, reducing backhaul costs by up to 60%.

To date, Cambridge Broadband Networks products have been commercially deployed and technically proven in more than 30 countries, and the company continues to expand into new geographical markets as wireless networks become more widespread throughout the world. Privately-held, Cambridge Broadband Networks has headquarters in Cambridge, UK, with offices in Nigeria and South Africa and manufacturing facilities in China.

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