Network "leaps" and data bounds

It’s a big step in the right direction for always-on data services. This week, Cambia Networks (www.cambianetworks.com) announced that Leap Wireless (www.leapwireless.com) has selected the Cambia Mobile Data Server as a critical network platform to test potential high-speed data applications on its existing CDMA network.

This makes Cambia the first wireless data infrastructure vendor worldwide to ship 3G high-speed data-only equipment for a wireless network operator. The Cambia Mobile Data Server is the first open-architecture, standards-based mobile data access product introduced in the wireless industry that also will be always-on and always-mobile.

For wireless carriers migrating CDMA and GSM technologies to next-generation 2.5G and 3G networks, the Cambia Mobile Data Server can make high-speed wireless data transmission a reality, according to Andy Bezaitis, Cambia Networks founder and CEO.

“We are finally at a point in wireless where operators have vendors to choose from that are providing best in class products at each element in the network," Bezaitis said. "This is quite a change from the older one-stop, end-to-end purchases, and the operators will be the greatest beneficiaries of this.”

Leap will deploy the Cambia Mobile Data Server, which will provide high-speed access to wireless data while maintaining a constant connection to the Internet. Leap Wireless subscribers will be able to send and receive data at speeds of up to 30 times that of other carriers’ current 2G networks.

Initially, Leap plans to upgrade its networks to 1XRTT infrastructure and handsets only in select markets, primarily to increase voice capacity in densely population centers. Leap expects to begin deploying IX technology in the first half of 2002.

Cambia’s solution is an important element in Leap’s evaluation of next-generation services that take advantage of CDMA2000 1X technology, said Glenn Umetsu, Leap Wireless’ senior vice president of launch/deployment.

“Cambia’s Mobile Data Server platform gives us a solid boost in our interoperability testing and deployment plans, and we expect it to deliver significant benefits for our customers,” Umetsu said. “Cambia’s standards-based approach will allow Leap to use this platform with any open wireless infrastructure provider.”

He added that the open, scalable, carrier-class solution has the greatest combination of density and throughput in the industry. The server’s product-line architecture includes the Cambia PDSN (Packet Data Serving Node), Cambia HA (Home Agent), Cambia Control Module and the Cambia AAA Server. This platform combines reliable, industry-proven hardware with the open Linux operating system, which provides solution density, enhanced flexibility, reliability and operational simplicity for carriers. Cambia’s wireless data access solution enables carriers to bridge their radio networks to the public Internet while providing value-added services to end users.

“Our ultimate goal is to reduce the cost and time it takes for our customers to deploy next-generation wireless services,” Bezaitis added.

Not to mention the competitive advantages.