Wide Area Wireless Broadband

Corporate Profile
Series A November, 2002 led by VenGrowth, BDC
Series B November, 2003 led by JP Morgan
Strategic Investment T-Ventures March 2004
69 employees
Locations:
Ottawa, Canada: R&D and current head office
Sales: Atlanta, Dallas, Phoenix, New York, Seattle

BelAir200 shipping since March 2004

20 commercial deployments in North America

BelAir100 now shipping

BelAir Networks Vision

Wide Area Wi-Fi
Complete solution for metro scale WI-FI infrastructure
Wi-Fi access today, but other access technologies possible
Wi-Fi, WiMAX, cellular can exist on the same platform

Carrier-grade, outdoor solution

Integrated wireless mesh backhaul and wireless access
Delivers broadband data, voice and video services
Software to manage multiple applications

Target Markets
Metro Wi-Fi, Hospitality, Higher Education Campuses,

Transportation & Logistics, Government, Multi-Dwelling Units

BelAir Mesh Applications

Complete Wide Area Wi-Fi

BelAir provides complete infrastructure for Wide Area Wi-Fi.

Includes integrated wireless backhaul and wireless access.

Enterprise Performance, Metro Scale

Standard Wi-Fi Clients
Enterprise applications
VoWi-Fi
Enterprise security
Multiple SSIDs and VLANs
Mobility

Metro coverage for Wi-Fi with no compromises.

BelAirs Outside In Coverage

Directional access antennas project coverage in from the outside
Complete building coverage with fewer nodes
Eliminates need for indoor wired network to interconnect APs

54 Mbps
Point to Point
Backhaul Links

BelAir system covers outdoor open areas or inside buildings.

BelAirs Mesh Technology

Multiple Point-to-Point Mesh with Wi-Fi Access
High capacity, robust, secure wireless backbone
Reduces backhaul costs
Enables wireless access nodes to be placed where needed
Provide Wi-Fi coverage inside buildings from the outside

BelAirs Mesh Approach

Multi-radio mesh with multiple point-topoint wireless backhaul links
Access is 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi at 11 Mbps up to 54 Mbps
Backhaul is multiple point-to-point 5 GHz links
Up to 3 independent 54 Mbps links

Capacity
Highest capacity wireless mesh
Performance similar to wired links
More than 10 times capacity of single radio mesh
3 times the capacity of dual radio mesh

Latency
BelAir has lowest latency
BelAir system can support voice and video
Dual radio and single radio mesh have shared

backhaul so latency is poor and unpredictable

Interference and co-existence

BelAir is a better citizen sharing the unlicensed

bands and has more flexibility in dealing with

interferers

Single Radio Mesh and VoIP

In single radio mesh systems, when one
node transmits, its neighbors must listen.
All nodes use same channel

Single Radio
Mesh

Transmitting

Each node must buffer packets until network

is not busy

Listening
and Blocked

Buffering represents delay

f1

Backhaul links between APs are transient

f1

Delay and jitter vary depending on the

number of neighbors and their activity.

f1
f1

Increased latency and variable jitter

reduces voice quality
Single radio and other mesh systems with

shared backhaul

Single radio mesh and other shared

backhaul mesh systems cant support
voice over 2 hops or more
Also impacts other multimedia applications

Buffers Data
Link Not
Made, Node
is Blocked

Listening
and blocked
f1

Listening
But No Data
Arriving

Multi-Radio Mesh and VoIP

BelAir multi-radio mesh
architecture
Transmitting

Dedicated point to point links between

nodes

Multi-Radio
Mesh

Stable and persistent links

No buffering is required

f1

Latency is low (1-2 ms delay per hop)

f2

Jitter is independent of network topology

f3

Parallel operation is possible

Wireless access and backhaul on different

channels

Backhaul links on different channels

Not a shared backhaul network

Enables voice and other multimedia

applications mixed with data

Listening
and
Ready

Listening
and ready

f1
f2

Backhaul
Links are
Persistent

f3
Listening
and Ready

BelAir system enables VoWi-Fi across large mesh.

Backhaul Mesh Connections

= BelAir100
2 Radio Platform
1 Access Radio Module
1 Backhaul Radio Module
Edge mesh node

= BelAir200
4 Radio Platform
1 Access Radio Module
Up to 3 Backhaul Radio Modules
Core mesh node

BelAir200
Integrated Solution: Network-in-a-Box
4 Radio Platform
1 Access Radio Module, 2.4 GHz, 11 or 54 Mbps
3 Backhaul Radio Modules, 5 GHz, 54 Mbps
Integrated 100 Mbps Ethernet
Embedded Router, Gateway, Switch
Outdoor, environmentally hardened

Hardware to deliver coverage and

capacity needed for large networks
Multiple applications
Voice over Wi-Fi

Software to manage and secure the system

WPA, AES, VLANs, VPNs, OSPF
Multiple SSID support
Rogue AP detection

Diameter:12 inches
Height: 16 inches
Weight: 25 lbs

BelAir200 Hardware
Backhaul 5 GHz antenna array
8 antennas, 15 dBi gain
Each 45 degree horizontal, 20 degree vertical

BelAir200 Top View

Line Interface Module

100 Mbps Ethernet

Fiber Interface
Connection to the wired network

AC powered with backup

95 264V
Integrated Battery Backup (15 minutes)

Integral 2.4 GHz access antenna

Diversity, dual cross polarized, 8 dBi gain
65 degrees horizontal and vertical pattern
22 degree up-tilt to beam into buildings
Extended Range WLAN 802.11b and .11g

Designed for outdoor environment

-40o to +50oC operation
Water and Dust proof (IP56/NEMA4 rating)

Electronics
Enclosure
2

BelAir100
Two Radio Platform
Same high performance radio modules as

BelAir200 (BRM2 and ARM2)

Outdoor extended temperature operation

AC powered, pole mounted
Works with BelAir200 networks
Consistent software and management

Application
Mesh termination node
Connection to the wired backhaul
Lower capacity networks
Single hotel, lightweight Metro Wi-Fi
Mesh edge nodes
Large indoor venues

BelAir100 Hardware
Designed for outdoor environment
-40 to +50 C operation
Water and dust proof (IP56/NEMA4 rating)
13.5 high by 5.5 thick by 7 wide
Weight 11 lbs

Integrated antennas
One directional Backhaul antenna (10.5 dBi)
One directional Access antenna (8 dBi)
Optional external antennas for both radios

AC powered with backup

95 264V
Integrated 15 minute Battery Backup

BelAir System Software

Same software for BelAir100 and BelAir200
First Wide-Area Wi-Fi solution to support private
and public networks over a single network
MSSID up to 16 virtual Wi-Fi networks
1 public and 15 private SSIDs mapped to separate VLANs with
different security policies
Enables different service providers on a single infrastructure
Supports open public and secure private applications

Enhanced security
802.1x authentication and TKIP for access
AES encryption for newer Wi-Fi client cards
TKIP support on backhaul links

Interference detection from other systems

Rogue AP Detection on the BelAir200

Release 3 System Software

Release 3.0 February 2005
BRM2
Dynamic Frequency Selection for radar avoidance
Delivers operation in 5470-5725MHz band for access to more
channels
Radar Detection
Management Enhancements
New SNMP standard tree
Active Alarm retrieval
SYSLOG to console

Release 3.1 March 2005

ARM2
delivers 802.11g for higher capacity
802.11i support (WPA2 with AES) for enhanced security
Spectralink support: SVP protocol detection
Better support for VoIP applications
Quality of Service - Access Radio queues enables VoIP over Wi-Fi
Backhaul radio queues enables VoIP and TDM over backhaul

Municipal Wi-Fi Networks

BelAir is the ONLY Wi-Fi product that supports metro
scale deployments in urban areas
Large mesh with just a few wired backhaul locations
Cover outdoor street level or inside buildings up to 25 stories

Capacity to support multiple applications throughout

network
Multiple SSIDs mapped to different VLANs
Voice support

Use mesh to go around obstructions

Add security/surveillance

Metro Deployments
Telecom Ottawa
24 BelAir200s in downtown

Ottawa
Wi-Fi public access zone and
complete hotel coverage
from the same mesh

Athens, Georgia
7 BelAir200 units downtown
24 blocks covered
University of Georgia
WAGZone
Mobile Media Consortium

University of Georgia

Euro Metro Coverage Area Map

Coverage
Areas of
Interest

Tower

Hotel

BelAirs Network Layout

Cisco Switch (3550)

Cisco 3745

N7
Ch. 152

Internet
N6

10/100 Mbps Base-T

Ch. 166

Ch. 166
N5

N1

European Deployment
100mW EIRP limit on
access

Ch. 156
N4

1W EIRP limit on
backhaul

Ch. 156

Coverage provided
indoors and outdoors

Ch. 148
N3

Ch. 166
N2

Not To
Scale

Tower

Ch. 152

Hotel

N8

Location Photos

BelAir in Hospitality
Practical coverage of large venues
Hotels, resorts, convention centers
Sports arenas, marinas, ski lodges

BelAir solution is ideal for complete large hotel

Wi-Fi coverage
Hotels are perfect for BelAirs outside-in Wi-Fi
coverage
BelAir system supports
both public and private
applications within a
hotel
Wi-Fi public access
Security, retail, back office

Sheraton Maui

6 building complexes, 529 rooms over 23 acres

Fitness Center, Salon & Day Spa, 6 Restaurants and Lounges
6,500 square foot ballroom
140 Yard Fresh Water Lagoon-Style Pool

Challenges:
Very limited room for deployment on the ocean side
Limited locations for mounting or power access

Results

13 BelAir200s provide full Wi-Fi coverage for

entire Sheraton property.

Louisiana State University

Campus and MDU Wi-Fi
coverage for housing
near Louisiana State
University
Over two square miles
of open areas and
buildings including
2,200 apartments
Residential broadband
for apartments
Public access Wi-Fi
zone in common areas
4 BelAir200s in phase 1

Transportation/Logistics
Warehouse/Shipping
Upgrade to wide area coverage
RFID, Mobile Data, VoIP
Large warehouses, manufacturing,

shipping yards, construction sites

Transportation applications
Commuter rail lines
Airport terminals and hangers
Wireless security cameras and

logistics support

Ports and waterfronts

Security and logistics

Fort Myers Airport

Two BelAir200s
provide complete
coverage of
existing terminals
Four more will
cover construction
site as they build
new terminals

Summary
BelAir provides complete solution for Wide Area Wi-Fi
Everything from the wired interconnection to the wireless client
Enterprise Wi-Fi performance on a metro scale
No compromises throughput, capacity, security, VoWi-Fi

Unique, patented Cellular LAN architecture

Multi-radio approach solves mesh scalability issues
Supports voice with high QoS

BelAir200 shipping in volume

Available in multiple configurations

BelAir100 now available

Lowers cost of simple, single building installations
Also works as part of larger BelAir mesh systems

www.belairnetworks.com

Wide Area Wireless Broadband

Mesh Options: Single Radio

Each node has a single radio
Access and backhaul share radio
All nodes tune to same frequency

Mesh is formed using omni-directional

antennas to send and receive to all the
other nodes within range
Backhaul is a shared network

f1

Mesh nodes and clients share available

bandwidth

f1

f1

f1

System capacity is very low

Latency is high and unpredictable

f1

Most mesh products today are single

radio
Simple, but wont scale to a large system
Cannot support many broadband users

Unacceptable For Permanent Broadband Infrastructure

Mesh Options: Dual Radio

Each node has two radios
Access and backhaul are separate

Mesh is formed using omnidirectional antennas

Multipoint-to-multipoint
Backhaul is a shared network operating

on a single channel
System capacity is low

Dual radio mesh is an

improvement
Solves the mesh forwarding problem
Still limited capacity and scalability

f1

f1
a1
f1

f1

a1

a1

a1
a1

Works for small networks

But

Wont Support Voice Over Wi-FiLatency High/Unpredictable

Mesh Options: Multi-Radio

Each node has multiple radios
Client access and mesh backhaul are

completely independent

Mesh formed with multiple

point-to-point links, dedicated
radios, directional antennas
Backhaul is an independent network

operating on multiple channels

Can run custom protocol

Independent backhaul links provide
greater capacity
Point-to-point links enable greater
separation of mesh nodes
Backhaul mesh has performance of wired

network

Coverage And Capacity Scale To Large Network

Capacity Comparison
Capacity of Multi-Radio system constrained by
backhaul
Can increase capacity of multi-radio system by adding more

wired egress points