Deltenna WiBE To Bring Rural Broadband To UK/Ireland
Rural broadband has become somewhat of a buzzword in America, and around the globe. With broadband speeds stabilizing amongst many cities in the world, focus has shifted to getting higher Internet speeds to less populated areas. The idea is that the Internet, and having broadband access to it, could boost the smaller, rural economies. The trick is getting Internet to places where most companies view it as unprofitable to even try.
In America, the FCC and the government has become involved in trying to expand access. In Europe, it looks like at least one company is already producing a product that should kick things into high gear. Deltenna's WiBE, a device to deliver fast broadband to rural areas that are far from the phone exchange, will go on sale today to consumers in the UK and Ireland. It's a small, canister shaped device that connects to a 3G cellular data network and then distributes that via Wi-Fi to nearby residences.
The WiBE's maximum throughput is 7.2Mbps and extensive tests in the UK demonstrate a typical download speed of 2.8Mbps in rural regions. Recent independent tests for a UK broadcaster showed that in areas of weak signal the device delivers a data throughput 30-times greater than a 3G USB modem dongle. And the connection range is typically between three and five-times that of the 3G dongle.
The device automatically tests each mobile cell in range to determine the fastest available download speed and configures its aerials to achieve the best possible connection and block any interference. And since 3G is far more available even in rural areas of Europe, it's not as Mission: Impossible as it is in America. The first companies to offer the WiBE are Cetag Systems in Ireland and Buzz Networks in the UK, and we can only hope that something similar comes to North America (and elsewhere in the world) soon.
In America, the FCC and the government has become involved in trying to expand access. In Europe, it looks like at least one company is already producing a product that should kick things into high gear. Deltenna's WiBE, a device to deliver fast broadband to rural areas that are far from the phone exchange, will go on sale today to consumers in the UK and Ireland. It's a small, canister shaped device that connects to a 3G cellular data network and then distributes that via Wi-Fi to nearby residences.
The WiBE's maximum throughput is 7.2Mbps and extensive tests in the UK demonstrate a typical download speed of 2.8Mbps in rural regions. Recent independent tests for a UK broadcaster showed that in areas of weak signal the device delivers a data throughput 30-times greater than a 3G USB modem dongle. And the connection range is typically between three and five-times that of the 3G dongle.
The device automatically tests each mobile cell in range to determine the fastest available download speed and configures its aerials to achieve the best possible connection and block any interference. And since 3G is far more available even in rural areas of Europe, it's not as Mission: Impossible as it is in America. The first companies to offer the WiBE are Cetag Systems in Ireland and Buzz Networks in the UK, and we can only hope that something similar comes to North America (and elsewhere in the world) soon.
2Mbps rural broadband device becomes available
iPlayer in the Lake District, Spotify in Snowdonia, email in the Cairngorms
1st November: Deltenna's WiBE, a device to deliver fast broadband to rural areas that are far from the phone exchange, will today become available to consumers and businesses in the UK and Ireland through its reseller network.
The gadget connects to the 3G mobile network and creates a web hotspot - even when a mobile phone, dongle or MiFi device wouldn't register a 3G signal.
Recent independent tests for a UK broadcaster showed that in areas of weak signal the device delivers a data throughput 30-times greater than a 3G USB modem dongle. And the connection range is typically between three and five-times that of the 3G dongle.
The WiBE's maximum throughput is 7.2Mbps and extensive tests in the UK demonstrate a typical download speed of 2.8Mbps in rural regions. These are achieved through Deltenna's patented directional antennas and alignment algorithms.
Users connect laptops, smartphones or VoIP phones to the device via WiFi.
The device automatically tests each mobile cell in range to determine the fastest available download speed and configures its aerials to achieve the best possible connection and block any interference.
The first companies to offer the WiBE are Cetag Systems in Ireland and Buzz Networks in the UK. Buzz will resell the WiBE with its VoIP service under the name Hubb@.
The WiBE is also undergoing trials with major network operators and was recently selected by the UK Trade and Investment to represent the best of British innovation at Mobile World Congress 2011.
Notes to editors
UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is a UK government funded organisation that works with UK-based businesses to ensure their success in international markets, and encourage the best overseas companies to look to the UK as their global partner of choice.
