Colubris signs Broadreach

Colubris Networks, a vendor of wireless LAN access equipment and management systems, announced at "The Wireless LAN Event" conference in London, England, that it has forged a supply deal with U.K. public Wi-Fi network operator Broadreach Networks.

Colubris actually began providing Broadreach with its CN3200 and CN320 intelligent access devices, equipped with the vendor’s Virtual Access Point technology, in February for deployment in Broadreach’s ReadytoSurf network.

The technology allows service providers to broadcast multiple SSIDs within a hot spot. Broadreach will make use of this capability by marketing its ReadytoSurf network as a "white label" offering for other service providers, allowing eight SSIDs per hotspot, including its own via ReadytoSurf.

Six of those SSIDs already have been allocated to third party service provider partners, according to Broadreach. Each SSID advertises a direct connection to services offered by the company’s roaming partners, enabling hotspot users to select their preferred provider from the beginning of their session. Broadreach’s service provider partners benefit by maintaining a consistently branded service regardless of the location and underlying transport network.

Four-year-old Broadreach was founded as a spin-off from Arthur D. Little, and is backed by British Telecom, Intel and Virgin.