GALAXY INTERNET SERVICES AND STRIX SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE CITY-WIDE WIRELESS MESH FOR NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Strix Access/One Multi-Radio Mesh Network Will Provide Wireless Broadband Infrastructure for the City’s Public Wi-Fi Access and Critical Public Safety Communications
CALABASAS, Calif., April 30, 2007 – Strix Systems, the technology and market leader in high-performance wireless mesh networking, today announced that Galaxy Internet Services (Galaxy) has selected Strix Systems to provide its Access/One Outdoor Wireless System (OWS) high-capacity, multi-radio mesh network for the city-wide Wi-Fi network in Newton, Massachusetts. Strix’s modular, multi-radio OWS incorporates Strix Dynamic Mesh Architecture™ (DMA™) for high power and long reach, 2.4GHz radios for access, dual 5.8Ghz radios for ingress and egress backhaul, and long-range 4.9GHz radios for secured public safety communications services.
Galaxy is the anchor ISP for Newton’s new multi-purpose mesh network, which will deliver a broad range of services to a population of 80,000 people. Galaxy and the City established a public-private partnership whereby the City provides access to municipal resources such as streetlight poles and buildings. In exchange, Galaxy will provide City agencies and the police and fire departments free access to city-wide wireless services. The combined-use network will enable voice, video, and data access for the municipality’s public safety agencies, commercial and consumer Wi-Fi, and Internet and private access to consumers, small businesses, enterprises, government agencies, and public safety services.
“I’m pleased to announce a public-private partnership that will take advantage of sophisticated technology to improve City services, while enabling citizens and visitors in Newton to stay connected,” said David Cohen, mayor of Newton, Massachusetts.
Strix Access/One OWS was chosen for the city-wide wireless mesh infrastructure as it offers the industry’s best blend of performance, features, and flexibility as well as the lowest TCO, which helps both Galaxy and Newton leverage the full capabilities of the mesh network. Strix long-range 4.9GHz technology gives Newton’s police department secured access to police records, crime incidents, remote video surveillance, and other collaborative applications. The City’s fire department will install Wi-Fi-enabled laptops on vehicles to provide a tactical and strategic advantage when fighting fires and responding to emergency medical and other events. Fire officials will gain access to Newton’s database of structures, hazardous chemical sites, and other details. The municipal government will use the network to access a wide range of applications including public works, zoning, meter reading, and more.
“The mesh network of Newton, Massachusetts, is another practical example of how the Strix Access/One family of products complements the requirements of municipalities and meets our strict performance objectives for a service that will outlast those based on our competitors’ products,” said Martin Levetin, vice president of carrier and municipal networks at Strix. “Galaxy and the City of Newton have really embraced the capabilities of Strix Access/One products, realizing that the biggest issue is not the initial cost of deployment but the ongoing long-term costs.”
Galaxy currently provides a similar service to neighboring Brookline. Newton’s businesses and residents will benefit from the Brookline network through seamless wireless connectivity with no roaming costs across the City’s borders. In addition, public safety vehicles will be able to operate across borders when responding to mutual aid calls. Strix Access/One maximizes network capacity while minimizing wired backhaul connections—and backhaul cost—in comparison to other mesh solutions. This makes the Strix solution ideal for border-to-border and neighboring city deployments.
“Galaxy has established an excellent reputation with a skill set and level of innovative thinking that is vital to its customers,” said Bob Carp, president of Galaxy Internet Services. “Our public-private partnership with Newton makes it possible to deliver the best class of products with the lowest total cost of ownership.”
• Strix Access/One Network Outdoor Wireless System (OWS)
(http://www.strixsystems.com/product-detail.aspx?look=1)
• Strix Wireless Mesh Network Solutions
(http://www.strixsystems.com/solutions.aspx)
• Strix Long-Range 4.9GHz
(http://www.strixsystems.com/longrange4.9ghz.aspx)
• Galaxy Internet
(http://www.gis.net/)
• Newton Massachusetts
(http://www.ci.newton.ma.us/)
KEY WORDS
Massachusetts, Newton, Boston, Brookline, Galaxy, GIS, Internet multi-service wireless network, high-speed wireless access, 4.9GHz, DSRC-C, 802.11, wireless mesh, wireless mesh networks, wireless mesh manufacture, wireless mesh architecture, wireless mesh equipment, mesh wireless, mesh wireless network, mesh wireless network equipment, mesh network, wifi mesh, mesh wifi, outdoor wireless, outdoor wireless networks, outdoor mesh networks, outdoor mesh wireless, mesh wireless technology, wireless mesh technology, multi radio, multi-radio architecture, multi-radio wireless mesh, multi-radio mesh, municipal wireless, municipal networks, municipal mesh networks, metropolitan wireless, metropolitan networks, metropolitan mesh networks, metro mesh, broadband wireless equipment, wireless broadband equipment, wireless backhaul, cellular backhaul, public safety networks, mobility, roaming, wireless networking solution, city-wide wireless, wireless network equipment, country-wide wireless
About Strix OWS
The Strix Access/One OWS modular mesh products deliver the largest capacity (up to six radios and 768 users per node, three to six times the norm), highest throughput (five times the norm at 35 Mbps), and best scalability (users can add more radio boards, 4.9GHz, WiMAX modules, or new technologies). An independent wireless mesh test sponsored by Light Reading and completed in June 2006 found Strix’s OWS 2400-30 delivers the best throughput and capacity, the greatest scalability for voice applications, and the best mobility/roaming. Strix networks scale to 10 or more wireless hops with near-zero throughput loss and latency. Customers can deliver real-time applications with a minimum of wired connections for a given area, which reduces CapEx and OpEx.
About Strix Systems
Strix Systems is the proven worldwide leader in wireless mesh networking. Strix’s Access/One products are the industry’s only modular (chassis-based) mesh systems, delivering the highest throughput, lowest latency, greatest capacity and unparalleled scalability. This new generation of products provides the broadband mobility and reach to support voice, video, and data applications. Sold globally by a network of first-class distributors and integrators, Access/One solutions have been deployed in hundreds of networks worldwide, outdoor and indoor, for the service providers, metro, public safety, government, energy, transportation, hospitality, education, enterprise, and residential markets. For more information about Strix Systems, please visit www.strixsystems.com.
About Galaxy Internet Services, Inc.
Galaxy Internet Services Inc. is a Massachusetts-based Internet service provider which has been providing Internet and IT Solutions to the public, private enterprise and government municipalities since 1995. Galaxy’s mission is to enable wireless broadband access coupled with intelligent internet services everywhere through innovative joint partnerships with government municipalities and the private-sector. Galaxy’s services include a wide range of Internet connectivity, hosting, wide area networking and professional services. Galaxy operates the border-to-border wireless service in Brookline, Massachusetts, servicing public safety, municipal, commercial, and residential users. Galaxy has also taken a prominent role in the Wi-Fi pilot projects undertaken by the City of Boston and the recently formed non-profit tasked with building a wireless network for the City.
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