Wide Area Wireless Broadband
Corporate Profile
•Series A November, 2002 led by VenGrowth, BDC
•Series B November, 2003 led by JP Morgan
•Strategic Investment T-Ventures March 2004
•69 employees
•Locations:
• Ottawa, Canada: R&D and current head office
• Sales: Atlanta, Dallas, Phoenix, New York, Seattle
•BelAir200 shipping since March 2004
• 20 commercial deployments in North America
•BelAir100 now shipping
Slide 2
BelAir Networks Vision
• Wide Area Wi-Fi
 Complete solution for metro scale WI-FI infrastructure
 Wi-Fi access today, but other access technologies possible
 Wi-Fi, WiMAX, cellular can exist on the same platform
• Carrier-grade, outdoor solution
 Integrated wireless mesh backhaul and wireless access
 Delivers broadband data, voice and video services
 Software to manage multiple applications
• Target Markets
 Metro Wi-Fi, Hospitality, Higher Education Campuses,
Transportation & Logistics, Government, Multi-Dwelling Units
Slide 3
BelAir Mesh Applications
Slide 4
Complete Wide Area Wi-Fi
BelAir provides complete infrastructure for Wide Area Wi-Fi.
Includes integrated wireless backhaul and wireless access.
Slide 5
Enterprise Performance, Metro Scale
• Standard Wi-Fi Clients
• Enterprise applications
 VoWi-Fi
 Enterprise security
 Multiple SSIDs and VLANs
 Mobility
Metro coverage for Wi-Fi with no compromises.
Slide 6
BelAir’s Outside In Coverage
• Directional access antennas project coverage in from the outside
• Complete building coverage with fewer nodes
• Eliminates need for indoor wired network to interconnect APs
54 Mbps
Point to Point
Backhaul Links
BelAir system covers outdoor open areas or inside buildings.
Slide 7
BelAir’s Mesh Technology
• Multiple Point-to-Point Mesh with Wi-Fi Access
 High capacity, robust, secure wireless backbone
• Reduces backhaul costs
 Enables wireless access nodes to be placed where needed
• Provide Wi-Fi coverage inside buildings from the outside
Slide 8
BelAir’s Mesh Approach
• Multi-radio mesh with multiple point-topoint wireless backhaul links
 Access is 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi at 11 Mbps up to 54 Mbps
 Backhaul is multiple point-to-point 5 GHz links
• Up to 3 independent 54 Mbps links
• Capacity
 Highest capacity wireless mesh
• Performance similar to wired links
 More than 10 times capacity of single radio mesh
 3 times the capacity of dual radio mesh
• Latency
 BelAir has lowest latency
 BelAir system can support voice and video
 Dual radio and single radio mesh have shared
backhaul so latency is poor and unpredictable
• Interference and co-existence
 BelAir is a better citizen sharing the unlicensed
bands and has more flexibility in dealing with
interferers
Slide 9
Single Radio Mesh and VoIP
• In single radio mesh systems, when one
node transmits, its neighbors must listen.
 All nodes use same channel
Single Radio
Mesh
Transmitting
 Each node must buffer packets until
network is not busy
Listening
and Blocked
 Buffering represents delay
f1
 Backhaul links between APs are ‘transient’
f1
• Delay and jitter vary depending on the
number of neighbors and their activity.
f1
f1
• Increased latency and variable jitter
reduces voice quality
 Single radio and other mesh systems with
shared backhaul
• Single radio mesh and other shared
backhaul mesh systems can’t support
voice over 2 hops or more
Buffers Data
Link Not
Made, Node
is Blocked
Listening
and blocked
f1
Listening
But No Data
Arriving
 Also impacts other multimedia applications
Slide 10
Multi-Radio Mesh and VoIP
• BelAir multi-radio mesh
architecture
Transmitting
 Dedicated point to point links between
nodes
•
Multi-Radio
Mesh
Stable and persistent links
 No buffering is required
f1
 Latency is low (1-2 ms delay per hop)
f2
 Jitter is independent of network topology
f3
• Parallel operation is possible
 Wireless access and backhaul on different
channels
 Backhaul links on different channels
 Not a shared backhaul network
Listening
and
Ready
Listening
and ready
• Enables voice and other multimedia
applications mixed with data
f1
f2
Backhaul
Links are
Persistent
f3
Listening
and Ready
BelAir system enables VoWi-Fi across large mesh.
Slide 11
Backhaul Mesh Connections
• = BelAir100
 2 Radio Platform
 1 Access Radio Module
 1 Backhaul Radio Module
 Edge mesh node
• = BelAir200
 4 Radio Platform
 1 Access Radio Module
 Up to 3 Backhaul Radio Modules
 Core mesh node
Slide 12
BelAir200
• Integrated Solution: Network-in-a-Box
• 4 Radio Platform
 1 Access Radio Module, 2.4 GHz, 11 or 54 Mbps
 3 Backhaul Radio Modules, 5 GHz, 54 Mbps
 Integrated 100 Mbps Ethernet
 Embedded Router, Gateway, Switch
 Outdoor, environmentally hardened
• Hardware to deliver coverage and
capacity needed for large networks
 Multiple applications
 Voice over Wi-Fi
• Software to manage and secure the system
 WPA, AES, VLANs, VPNs, OSPF
 Multiple SSID support
Diameter:12 inches
Height: 16 inches
Weight: 25 lbs
 Rogue AP detection
Slide 13
BelAir200 Hardware
• Backhaul 5 GHz antenna array
 8 antennas, 15 dBi gain
 Each 45 degree horizontal, 20 degree vertical
BelAir200 Top View
• Line Interface Module
4
 100 Mbps Ethernet
5
 Fiber Interface
 Connection to the wired network
• AC powered with backup
3
6
 95 – 264V
Electronics
Enclosure
 Integrated Battery Backup (15 minutes)
• Integral 2.4 GHz access antenna
 Diversity, dual cross polarized, 8 dBi gain
2
7
 65 degrees horizontal and vertical pattern
 22 degree up-tilt to beam into buildings
 Extended Range WLAN 802.11b and .11g
1
8
• Designed for outdoor environment
o
o
 -40 to +50 C operation
 Water and Dust proof (IP56/NEMA4 rating)
Slide 14
BelAir100
• Two Radio Platform
 Same high performance radio modules as




BelAir200 (BRM2 and ARM2)
Outdoor extended temperature operation
AC powered, pole mounted
Works with BelAir200 networks
Consistent software and management
• Application
 Mesh termination node
• Connection to the wired backhaul
 Lower capacity networks
• Single hotel, lightweight Metro Wi-Fi
 Mesh edge nodes
 Large indoor venues
Slide 15
BelAir100 Hardware
• Designed for outdoor environment
 -40° to +50° C operation
 Water and dust proof (IP56/NEMA4 rating)
 13.5” high by 5.5” thick by 7” wide
 Weight 11 lbs
• Integrated antennas
 One directional Backhaul antenna (10.5 dBi)
 One directional Access antenna (8 dBi)
 Optional external antennas for both radios
• AC powered with backup
 95 – 264V
 Integrated 15 minute Battery Backup
Slide 16
BelAir System Software
• Same software for BelAir100 and BelAir200
• First Wide-Area Wi-Fi solution to support private
and public networks over a single network
 MSSID – up to 16 virtual Wi-Fi networks
• 1 public and 15 private SSIDs mapped to separate VLANs with
different security policies
 Enables different service providers on a single infrastructure
 Supports open public and secure private applications
• Enhanced security
 802.1x authentication and TKIP for access
 AES encryption for newer Wi-Fi client cards
 TKIP support on backhaul links
• Interference detection from other systems
 Rogue AP Detection on the BelAir200
Slide 17
Release 3 System Software
• Release 3.0 – February 2005
 BRM2
• Dynamic Frequency Selection for radar avoidance
• Delivers operation in 5470-5725MHz band for access to more
channels
• Radar Detection
 Management Enhancements
• New SNMP standard tree
• Active Alarm retrieval
• SYSLOG to console
• Release 3.1 – March 2005
 ARM2
• delivers 802.11g for higher capacity
• 802.11i support (WPA2 with AES) for enhanced security
• Spectralink support: SVP protocol detection
 Better support for VoIP applications
• Quality of Service - Access Radio queues enables VoIP over Wi-Fi
• Backhaul radio queues enables VoIP and TDM over backhaul
Slide 18
Municipal Wi-Fi Networks
• BelAir is the ONLY Wi-Fi product that supports metro
scale deployments in urban areas
 Large mesh with just a few wired backhaul locations
 Cover outdoor street level or inside buildings up to 25 stories
• Capacity to support multiple applications throughout
network
 Multiple SSIDs mapped to different VLANs
 Voice support
• Use mesh to go around obstructions
• Add security/surveillance…
Slide 19
Metro Deployments
•Telecom Ottawa
 24 BelAir200s in downtown
Ottawa
 Wi-Fi public access zone and
complete hotel coverage
from the same mesh
•Athens, Georgia
 7 BelAir200 units downtown
 24 blocks covered
 University of Georgia
• WAGZone
• Mobile Media Consortium
Slide 20
University of Georgia
Slide 21
Euro Metro Coverage Area Map
Coverage
Areas of
Interest
Tower
Hotel
Slide 22
BelAir’s Network Layout
Cisco Switch (3550)
Cisco 3745
N7
Ch. 152
Internet
N6
10/100 Mbps Base-T
Ch. 166
Ch. 166
N5
N1
Tower
• European Deployment
• 100mW EIRP limit on
access
Ch. 156
• 1W EIRP limit on
backhaul
N4
Ch. 156
• Coverage provided
indoors and outdoors
Ch. 148
N3
Ch. 166
Not To
Scale
N2
Ch. 152
N8
Hotel
Slide 23
Location Photos
Slide 24
BelAir in Hospitality
• Practical coverage of large venues
 Hotels, resorts, convention centers
 Sports arenas, marinas, ski lodges
• BelAir solution is ideal for complete large hotel
Wi-Fi coverage
• Hotels are perfect for BelAir’s “outside-in” Wi-Fi
coverage
• BelAir system supports
both public and private
applications within a
hotel
 Wi-Fi public access
 Security, retail, back office
Slide 25
Sheraton Maui
• 6 building complexes, 529 rooms over 23 acres
 Fitness Center, Salon & Day Spa, 6 Restaurants and Lounges
 6,500 square foot ballroom
 140 Yard Fresh Water Lagoon-Style Pool
• Challenges:
 Very limited room for deployment on the ocean side
 Limited locations for mounting or power access
Slide 26
Results
13 BelAir200s provide full Wi-Fi coverage for
entire Sheraton property.
Slide 27
Louisiana State University
• Campus and MDU Wi-Fi
coverage for housing
near Louisiana State
University
• Over two square miles
of open areas and
buildings including
2,200 apartments
• Residential broadband
for apartments
• Public access Wi-Fi
zone in common areas
• 4 BelAir200s in phase 1
Slide 28
Transportation/Logistics
• Warehouse/Shipping
 Upgrade to wide area coverage
 RFID, Mobile Data, VoIP
 Large warehouses, manufacturing,
shipping yards, construction sites
• Transportation applications
 Commuter rail lines
 Airport terminals and hangers
 Wireless security cameras and
logistics support
• Ports and waterfronts
 Security and logistics
Slide 29
Fort Myers Airport
•Two BelAir200s
provide complete
coverage of
existing terminals
•Four more will
cover construction
site as they build
new terminals
Slide 30
Summary
• BelAir provides complete solution for Wide Area Wi-Fi
 Everything from the wired interconnection to the wireless client
 Enterprise Wi-Fi performance on a metro scale
 No compromises – throughput, capacity, security, VoWi-Fi
• Unique, patented Cellular LAN architecture
 Multi-radio approach solves mesh scalability issues
 Supports voice with high QoS
• BelAir200 shipping in volume
 Available in multiple configurations
• BelAir100 now available
 Lowers cost of simple, single building installations
 Also works as part of larger BelAir mesh systems
www.belairnetworks.com
Slide 31
Wide Area Wireless Broadband
Mesh Options: Single Radio
• Each node has a single radio
 Access and backhaul share radio
 All nodes tune to same frequency
• Mesh is formed using omni-directional
antennas to send and receive to all the
other nodes within range
 Backhaul is a shared network
f1
 Mesh nodes and clients share available
bandwidth
 System capacity is very low
 Latency is high and unpredictable
f1
f1
f1
f1
• Most mesh products today are single
radio
 Simple, but won’t scale to a large system
• Cannot support many broadband users
Unacceptable For Permanent Broadband Infrastructure
Slide 33
Mesh Options: Dual Radio
•Each node has two radios
 Access and backhaul are separate
•Mesh is formed using omnidirectional antennas
 Multipoint-to-multipoint
 Backhaul is a shared network operating
on a single channel
 System capacity is low
•Dual radio mesh is an
improvement
 Solves the mesh forwarding problem
f1
f1
a1
f1
f1
a1
a1
a1
a1
 Still limited capacity and scalability
 Works for small networks
 But…
Won’t Support Voice Over Wi-Fi—Latency High/Unpredictable
Slide 34
Mesh Options: Multi-Radio
•Each node has multiple radios
 Client access and mesh backhaul are
completely independent
•Mesh formed with multiple
point-to-point links, dedicated
radios, directional antennas
 Backhaul is an independent network
operating on multiple channels
• Can run custom protocol
• Independent backhaul links provide
greater capacity
• Point-to-point links enable greater
separation of mesh nodes
 Backhaul mesh has performance of wired
network
Coverage And Capacity Scale To Large Network
Slide 35
Capacity Comparison
• Capacity of Multi-Radio system constrained by
backhaul
 Can increase capacity of multi-radio system by adding more
wired egress points
6.00
Multi radio
Dual radio, realistic
Single radio, realistic
70.00
60.00
System capacity (Mb/s)
Per-AP access capacity (Mb/s)
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
Multi radio
Dual radio, realistic
Single radio, realistic
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
0.00
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Number of APs
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Number of APs
Slide 36