Commercial wireless broadband network to provide connectivity across the whole of Lincoln city

AB Internet, Lincoln BIG and Alvarion build a wireless broadband network across the whole of Lincoln city

AB Internet, Lincoln BIG and Alvarion recently announced that they are building a wireless broadband network which will provide fixed and mobile broadband voice and data services across the whole of Lincoln city.

The network will operate on a commercial basis and is owned and operated by AB Internet.

The network will go live in July 2009 and will be used by a variety of organisations including:

♦ Lincoln University's 12,000 students plus teaching staff.
♦ Lincoln Council has pledged to buy capacity from the network for both mobile and fixed applications including the replacement of expensive leased lines. Initial users include:

Mobile workers who wish to access the council's central database from their PDAs and laptops; Managing car park ticket machines and CCTV at local car parks and communal areas.

Lincoln Police will also be using the network for:

• Remote surveillance - Bodycams on officers out on the beat - and also on their motorbikes - looking to transmit live images back to a central monitoring room.
• Mobile CCTV for football matches and other local events

Local businesses

AB Internet has already received many queries from businesses wishing to provide mobile data to employees - and wanting to reduce the costs of their fixed broadband.

Hotspots across the city - consumers will be able to use the network for 15 minutes a day without charge. Access for the full day will be just £2.

Darren Round, Managing Director of AB Internet, said: "We have built a commercially sustainable wireless broadband network. Several consumer segments and organisations in Lincoln would like to have data on the move. Our network far exceeds anything that 3G will be able to provide - now and in the future."

The network has been built using equipment from Alvarion. Backhaul is provided through Alvarion's BreezeNET B point to point equipment in the 5.4 GHz spectrum with speeds of up to 100 mbps.

AB Internet, Lincoln BIG and Alvarion's wireless broadband network will provide fixed and mobile broadband voice and data services across the whole of Lincoln city

This backhaul provides connectivity to ten 5.8 GHz Alvarion BreezeACCESS VL base stations which are located around the city.

These base stations transmit directly to Alvarion end-user terminal devices and also to 50 wifi access points provided by Alvarion's BreezeACCESS Wi²  equipment.

A number of British towns and cities have selected Alvarion for its ability to deliver superior WiMAX and broadband wireless solutions for private and alternative networks. These networks provide access to various kinds of organisations including city highways, residential homes, businesses and schools. They also improve public safety by connecting law enforcement agencies, fire fighters and rescue workers.

Zeev Strahl, Regional Director from Alvarion, said: "Wireless broadband is being used to provide fast and reliable broadband in urban and rural areas across the UK. Using our solutions, networks can be built quickly with a very sound business case."