Siklu Provides WiFi Backhaul Connectivity for Baltimore’s Famed Inner Harbor

BALTIMORE - Feb. 17, 2015 - PRLog -- The City of Baltimore now provides free WiFi at its historic Inner Harbor using 60 GHz radios from Siklu (http://www.siklu.com) to transport the communications traffic.

Siklu’s EtherHaul-600T was selected not only for its ability to provide gigabit throughput to support peak WiFi usage by tourists and local visitors, but also for its unobtrusive profile.

When the City of Baltimore initiated a free WiFi project for the Inner Harbor, they turned to local experts Port Networks, a Baltimore WiFi service provider. The city wanted to provide visitors to the Inner Harbor with easy Internet access, but because of the historic landmark status of the Inner Harbor, creating an unobtrusive network was of paramount importance.

The City of Baltimore owns and operates a fiber backbone, but the fiber would not reach every WiFi access point in the harbor, and disrupting operation to lay more fiber was neither feasible nor economical.

Port Networks identified millimeter waves as the optimal solution, with their combination of high throughput and low interference. The provider opted for the EtherHaul-600T radio, since its compact size would make it far less noticeable when deployed at the Inner Harbor.

“The EtherHaul is literally palm-sized. It was the smallest radio we could find that operated in the 60 GHz spectrum,” said Carl Peterson, Network Manager of Port Networks.

The EtherHaul-600T provides gigabit throughput that can easily handle peak WiFi performance and is interference free. Units can be installed in close proximity if needed. It also keeps operation costs low by operating over unlicensed spectrum.

Port Networks installed the entire WiFi network, including the backhaul connectivity links. “Installing the EtherHaul-600T was very easy,” said Peterson. “Its small size and light weight make the physical installation very simple, and aligning the link was surprisingly uncomplicated and fast.”

The network’s performance has been flawless since installation. “We’re confident our EtherHaul backhaul will be able to handle anything Baltimore’s WiFi network can throw at it,” said Ilan Moshe, head of Siklu’s North American operations. “The EtherHaul-600T has proven performance under peak WiFi conditions, even in situations where the upload rate greatly exceeds the download rate.”

Port Networks, impressed by the EtherHaul-600T's performance, is planning to incorporate additional Siklu radios in their other WiFi connectivity networks. “Adding Siklu radios will allow us to easily boost our network capacity,” explained Peterson.

Siklu will be showcasing the EtherHaul-600T gigabit radio at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona March 2-5, in Hall 2, stand 2D50.

About Siklu
Siklu delivers gigabit capacity millimeter wave wireless connectivity solutions operating in the 60, 70 and 80 GHz bands. The top choice of tier-1 operators worldwide, thousands of units have been deployed and deliver carrier grade performance. Siklu’s innovative all-silicon design has dramatically reduced prices and effectively opened the market for ultra-high capacity wireless links. Siklu is currently deploying its street level and rooftop connectivity solutions in diverse urban networks requiring high capacity connectivity.  Visit www.siklu.com.

About Port Networks
Port Networks is a privately held, Baltimore-based company that builds and operates residential and commercial networks in its local region, provides temporary networks to event organizers across the country, and designs marine Wi-Fi systems for recreational and commercial clients around the world. Port Networks was organized in 2002, and is incorporated in the state of Maryland. Visit www.portnetworks.com.