Jetting toward wireless: Jetstream adds broadband wireless

In an attempt to cover its bases, Jetstream Communications added support for broadband wireless technology to its CPX-1000 voice-over-broadband solution through a partnership with Adaptive Broadband. The platform already supports voice over DSL and T-1.

Because of the multiple broadband strategies in the market, it makes sense for the vendor to get access to many customers. Adding wireless broadband support also is a natural evolution for Jetstream, said Claude Romans, director of access networks for RHK. "It's a logical thing. There are a lot of businesses and residences buying DSL, but they are not always able to get the service. Wireless is a way to get around the issue of deployment."

The move to support broadband wireless infrastructures was customer driven, said Ken Kolderup, director of marketing for Jetstream. "There are a number of carriers looking at alternative broadband access beyond DSL. Our customers concentrate on getting broadband connections to subscribers, and our technology allows them to deliver the service."

By supporting wireless broadband access, service providers also can reach subscribers they would have had to turn away because of problems with the copper infrastructure. If a customer cannot be reached because of line-of-sight issues and copper problems, service providers can rely on traditional T-1, which may be more expensive for the service provider, but still is profitable because of the overall voice-over-DSL service offering, Kolderup said.

Jetstream's partnership with Adaptive Broadband already has attracted three carriers that Jetstream would not reveal.

Called AB-Access, Adaptive Broadband's equipment mounts on the outside of the customer premises, allows for point-to-access point transmission and connects into Jetstream's integrated access device (IAD) inside the customer premises. "Customers are able to get online quickly without the quality of service issues that you have with DSL," said Todd Carothers, vice president of marketing for Adaptive Broadband, adding that when the two companies decided to work together, they set up their equipment and made the first call within a half-hour.

Separately, TelePacific Communications announced it would use Jetstream's CPX-1000 and IADs, in conjunction with equipment from Lucent Technologies to provide converged voice and data services over DSL in the Western U.S. this year.