Bechtel Corp.'s Bechtel Telecommunications subsidiary and Telaxis Communications Corp. (Quote) said that testing by Bechtel "validates" Telaxis' FiberLeap fiber optic network extension product.
Testing conducted at the Bechtel Telecoms Training, Demonstration, and Research (TDR) Laboratory confirms the FiberLeap product's ability to transmit optical signals at OC-12 data rates (622 Megabits per second) via a wireless link for "last-mile" connections to fiber optic networks, officials from both companies said.
FiberLeap is designed to extend the reach of fiber optic networks through wireless connections where installation barriers and cost make installing additional fiber connections less desirable. FiberLeap access units form a wireless link designed to function, and to be managed and serviced, as if it were a length of fiber optic cable, officials said.
"Testing at our lab specifically proved the transparency of the FiberLeap product in SONET, ATM, and Ethernet environments," said Bechtel Telecoms Chief Technology Officer Jake MacLeod. "This transparency allowed FiberLeap to provide `last-mile' connectivity to fiber optic networks."
The initial FiberLeap product, operating in the unlicensed 60 GHz band, is designed to deliver voice, video, and data signals from fiber optic network distribution points to wireless access units 500 to 1,000 meters away with 99.999 percent availability, without deterioration of signal. Distances increase significantly with availability of 99.99 percent or lower. FiberLeap is also designed for fast, low-cost installation using industry-standard optical interfaces.
Images
