ITEXPO East: BridgeWave to Unveil 60gHz Picocell Solution

BridgeWave is preparing to introduce a 60gHz picocell solution at the CTIA show in March. Amir Makleff, BridgeWave’s President and CEO, previewed details of the solution to MobilityTechzone this week at the ITEXPO East show in Miami.

Makleff says that as wireless service providers deploy new 4G networks they will run into situations in which bandwidth is not as high as it should be, or there are flat out coverage holes. These companies could put macrocells closer together to address that, but that’s too expensive. Instead, network operators expect to deploy large numbers of small cells – or picocells – to fill in the gaps.

In fact, there 4G networks in Japan with 20 picocells to every macrocell. In densely populated areas of the U.S., such as New York City, the ratio will probably be closer to 10:1, says Makleff.

BridgeWave is addressing the backhaul aspect of picocells. Given 4G picocells will deliver between 50 and 200mbps, backhaul for a picocell (which might involve cascading architectures involving multiple cells) might require capacities in the 300mbps to 1gpbs range, Makleff says.

There are a couple ways 4G network operators can address that. One is to do fiber-based backhaul, but that’s expensive (especially when you consider that fiber would have to come to all these picocells). Another is to leverage wireless technology for the backhaul. As Makleff notes, the choices are either to use low-frequency spectrum, which is licensed and typically used for other applications, or higher frequency spectrum, which has interference issues and government-regulated antenna size requirements.

BridgeWave decided to build its picocell to operate in the 60gHz unlicensed frequency, which is the area of the spectrum that will be used for next-generation Wi-Fi. This area of the spectrum is unique for a few reasons, he says. First, there’s 7gHz of spectrum available in this band. Second, oxygen molecules resonate at 60gHz; as a result, they attenuate, or absorb, the signal and make it usable only up to one mile and then the signal completely dissipates. (And that’s a good thing because your typical wireless signal propagates for miles, and that’s not good, especially in cities.) All of this means 60gHz antennas need only be three to four inches, and that they have a very narrow beam width.  Added to all these benefits is that fact that next-generation Wi-Fi solutions should significantly lower the cost of 60gHz components over time, he adds.

In high volumes, Makleff says, both ends of the link of BridgeWave’s picocell solution will probably sell in the $2,000 to $3,000 range. The company is currently in a trial for the solution with a tier 1 carrier in the U.S.

Want to learn more about 4G wireless technologies? Then be sure to attend the 4GWE Conference, collocated with TMC’s ITEXPO East, taking place Feb 2-4, 2011, in Miami. The 4GWE Conference provides unmatched networking opportunities and a robust conference program representing the wireless ecosystem. The conference not only brings together the best and brightest in the wireless industry, it actually spans the communications and technology industry. To register, click here.