Cambridge Broadband partners with Gateway Communications to create world’s largest point to multipoint microwave network (28/01/2010)
VectaStar II to underpin high-speed wireless broadband in Nigeria
Cambridge, UK, 28 January 2010. Cambridge Broadband Networks today announced a
contract with Gateway Communications to create the world’s largest point to multipoint
microwave access network. Gateway will use Cambridge Broadband Networks’ industry
leading VectaStar II platform to provision 130 hubs and 5000 terminal stations that will deliver
mobile broadband connections across Nigeria.
Gateway Communications Nigeria, headquartered in Lagos, are building a pan-African, all-IP
connectivity network that covers every major African city and has acquired 10.5GHz spectrum
licences for point to multipoint in Nigeria to further the project. The company will roll out up to
10Mb mobile broadband services across 10 Nigerian states in 2010, with Port Harcourt and
Abuja scheduled to go live in February. It is anticipated that a further 14 states will go live
through 2011. The deal follows Gateway’s successful roll out of its award winning AirlinkTM
and MetroLinkTM mobile broadband services, using VectaStar 10.5GHz solutions in Lagos.
“High speed, high quality and secure broadband networks are critical for businesses in
Nigeria. Gateway has an aggressive roll-out plan for mobile broadband networks in 2010 and
2011. We needed an efficient, reliable and high capacity solution that could be deployed
quickly,” said Guy Clarke, Managing Director, Gateway Nigeria, “and point to multipoint met
all those requirements as well as being highly efficient to run and commercially sound.”
Cambridge Broadband Networks developed its point to multipoint (P2MP) microwave
solutions to address operators’ growing needs for more efficient, high capacity mobile
backhaul and access solutions. P2MP technology can be deployed rapidly, it delivers
significant capital and operational savings over legacy point to point microwave solutions and
it provides an upgrade path to meet the forecast demand for mobile broadband services.
VectaStar II features industry-leading performance characteristics including 7-state hitless
adaptive modulation, 256QAM modulation to deliver class-leading spectral efficiency and
Ethernet throughput performance.
“The agreement with Gateway perfectly illustrates the clear benefits of Cambridge
Broadband’s VectaStar II solution,” commented Graham Peel, Chief Executive Officer of
Cambridge Broadband Networks. “Whether in emerging or developed markets, point to
multipoint microwave has clear and demonstrable advantages over the legacy point to point
solutions. VectaStar has already been adopted by 50 operators in 35 geographic markets,
including in what the GSMA has described as the world’s busiest mobile broadband network.
This latest mass deployment provides further validation of the technology and Cambridge
Broadband’s ability to deliver.”
About Cambridge Broadband Networks (www.cbnl.com)
Cambridge Broadband Networks a member of the Next Generation Mobile Network Alliance
(NGMN), provides telecommunications operators with carrier-class wireless point-tomultipoint
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 Malaysia and South Africa and manufacturing
facilities in China.
About Gateway Communications (www.gatewaycomms.com)
Gateway Communications is the leading pan-African wholesale connectivity and
telecommunications provider, working in partnership with Africa’s mobile operators, and
helping many of the world’s largest corporations stay connected across Africa and into the
rest of the world. Gateway’s core infrastructure connects over 580 million people, across
more than 40 African countries and includes over 50 satellite transponders over Africa, 24
dedicated teleports throughout Africa, and access to multiple sub-sea cable landing ports
around the African continent. Gateway Communications is recognised for setting the
standards for tomorrow’s communications. Gateway Communications is wholly owned by
Vodacom Group Limited, which is listed on the JSE Limited under the symbol VOD.
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