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February 20, 2014

DragonWave Announces its Newest Radio System that Targets 70-80 GHz Spectrum, Harmony Eband

Microwave radio has long been used (as early as 1940s) for critical communications as they offer high availability and reliability when connecting remote sites. It is a point-to-point technology for transmitting digital and analog signals. Digital has become the most advanced form of microwave communication today; however, analog is often used at tower sites simply because it is more economical.

For both digital and analog microwave communication, a line of sight (LOS) transmission path is required; signal can travel as much as 300 kilometers or around 186 miles and can be repeated along the route, to transmit video, audio, or data between the transmitter and receiver. For decades, microwave communication has provided operators with flexible and high-quality telecommunications for all fixed and broadband wireless access to the information highway and to support emerging mobile applications and network connectivity. However, what was once a premier wireless transport solution for communication has now been reduced in use as fiber-optics communications have been able to offer benefits like greater bandwidth.

However, not everyone find fiber-optic routes the optimum medium for sending information; for instance, there is the microwave technology vendor, DragonWave, a provider of high-capacity packet microwave solutions with products geared towards mobile network backhaul and solutions that drive next-generation IP networks. This week, the company “has expanded its product portfolio with the introduction of the Harmony Eband, a compact, lightweight radio that operates in the 70-80 GHz spectrum with low-energy consumption” that can be an affordable option for operators looking to contain expenses while still tapping on a large source of spectrum.

DragonWave, a developer of Ethernet microwave technologies, continues to invest in this technology for its customers. With Harmony Eband, the industry’s first 70/80 GHz multipurpose platform exceeds traditional voice TDM traffic levels on many service provider microwave links, and offers an uncompressed Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) using an ultra-low delay transfer mode for enabling wireless fronthaul.

“Eband delivers a complete, all-outdoor solution [that is] ideally suited for urban and small cell deployments. Providing long-term viability and easy redeployment options in evolving network environments," said Greg Friesen, vice president, Product Management, DragonWave. He adds that “it meets the capacity and latency requirements required to support fronthaul, macro backhaul and small cell aggregation, and is LTE synchronization ready.” Friesen believes that the product is not only an effective option for today’s networks but will be a great asset also for future ones.

According to Richard Webb, directing analyst, wireless for Infonetics Research, the Harmony Eband “offers operators an opportunity to utilize a large and generally untapped and affordable source of spectrum.” As stated in the Yahoo! Post, in fact the Harmony Eband allows operators access to spectrum that is generally available at a lower cost and is less licensed than lower frequency spectrum. DragonWave also affirms, in fact, that its product is “a cost-effective alternative to other, more congested (23 – 38 GHz), microwave frequencies for path distances up to 8 km.” 

Friesen believes that the Harmony Eband is a welcome addition to DragonWave product portfolio as it allows operators to choose the best solution to address nearly every possible spectrum; service providers can then meet their increasing bandwidth requirements rapidly and affordably. As companies become more and more cost-conscious, Harmony Eband offers a solution that allows them to build an efficient network that is reliable, scalable and with minimal life cycle costs.

In sum, the Harmony Eband is an enhanced option for mobile backhaul markets that unleashes the potential of true broadband mobility. It is “equipped with multiple ports and a proprietary mechanical design for self-weatherization that simplifies installation and saves on deployment cost. [It has] a number of features that increase spectral efficiency and that extend the radio's reach than traditional Eband systems thanks to dual-mode MIMO with integrated high-gain antenna and hitless adaptive modulation [that provides extensive networking capabilities],” as DragonWave states on its website.

To know more about Harmony Eband, visit the DragonWave website. Alternatively, one can go and see the product on display (Stand Hall 7, #7E12) at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, which is taking place this month (from Feb 24 – 27). 




Edited by Cassandra Tucker


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