Aviat Networks has launched what it is describing as the “smallest and lightest” 70-80GHz radio in the market, as it looks to capitalise on backhaul requirements in urban areas.
The WTM 3300 is one-fifth the weight and runs at half the power of a typical Ethernet microwave radio, the company claimed. Specifically, it is suited for deployment in dense city areas and can be easily installed on lamposts or the sides of buildings.
Planning issues and finding suitable sites have been an issue in small cell deployments across western Europe. Aviat said typical 70-80GHz radios have not been able to be installed because of the highly visible nature of parabolic antennas.
According to research from Infonetics, the market for these radios will have a compound annual growth rate of 61 percent between 2012 and 2017.
Richard Webb, Directing Analyst, commented: “With small cell deployments beginning in densely populated urban areas, lightweight 70-80GHz backhaul solutions with small form factors and built-in antennas… can fill a critical need.”
Aviat added the product reduces the total cost of ownership for operators because they do not have to buy, shop and install separate antennas to provide a microwave backhaul solution for its network.
Ola Gustafsson, Aviat Networks’ Senior Vice President, Product and Services Portfolio Management, said: “The Aviat WTM 3300 70-80GHz radio offers up to 1Gbps capacity, which makes it ideal for meeting the requirements of even the most stringent urban application. WTM 3300 supports this high throughput at one-fifth the weight and one-half the power consumption of traditional all-outdoor Ethernet microwave radios.”
Aviat Networks said it had began shipping the radios to operators in Western Europe and had a deal in place with a Lat-Am operator.