Cambridge Broadband Networks wins Saudi Arabian contract

A leading Saudi Arabian operator has awarded Cambridge Broadband Networks a significant contract for the provision of its VectaStar backhaul transmission platform. The VectaStar equipment will operate in the licensed 26GHz spectrum band to backhaul a 3G high speed packet access (HSPA) network. Initial deployment are in Saudi Arabia’s capital city, Riyadh, and in Western region, Jeddah, with plans to expand the VectaStar network nationwide.

VectaStar was selected because the combination of Point-to-Multipoint architecture, advanced multi-frequency transmission capability, and intelligent data optimisation and aggregation makes it highly cost-effective for today’s backhaul. It provides significantly greater capacity than alternative technologies, and its future-proof architecture provides confidence to invest in an infrastructure perfectly in line with plans for rapid growth in mobile broadband services. In addition, VectaStar has proven to be flexible and fast to deploy in other installations in the region.

A Point-to-Multipoint microwave architecture delivers a significant reduction in OPEX that helps network operators cope with the downward pressure on operating margins; while VectaStar’s scaling and future-proofing enables their backhaul systems to match the explosive and uncertain future growth in data traffic.

Olof Lindberg, VP Worldwide Sales of Cambridge Broadband Networks, comments:

We are delighted to be working with one of the Middle East’s fastest-moving operators to help them scale their backhaul network to keep up with the demand they are experiencing for their advanced services.

Olof Lindberg – VP Worldwide Sales

Informa’s Mobile Backhaul conference for Europe

Last week I attended Informa’s 1st Mobile Backhaul conference for Europe, which took place at the Hotel Auditorium in Madrid. It’s fascinating to see the level of growth in this industry in just the last few years, and the increasingly diverse topic areas that are covered at events like these.

My reason for attending this conference initially was to support a speaker; a client of Cambridge Broadband Networks, Tarik Janati from Wana.

Wana is the third main telecommunications company in Morocco, facing similar challenges to most mobile network operators around the world. The challenge: How can the MNOs manage mobile broadband demands, which are rising exponentially, while simultaneously driving up revenue? How do they ensure the right choice for backhaul to meet the evolution of networks to IP/Ethernet whilst keeping control of spiralling Opex costs?

Amongst other things, Tarik’s presentation addressed the specific access and backhaul challenges that they overcame by deploying PMP technology with VectaStar’s unique statistical multiplexing and over the air optimisation. He also talked about how Wana see point-to-multipoint as the ideal backhaul for dense, urban WiMAX deployment. It was great to hear how VectaStar has given Wana a real competitive advantage in the market. The presentation is available to download as a PDF [1.5Mb].

The main focus of the conference was on strategies and long term solutions for operators to successfully develop their backhaul network, so it was interesting to see how many presentations were based on the struggles that MNOs are encountering today, let alone the difficulties predicted by the growth rate of mobile broadband between now and 2012. One thing everyone seemed to agree on, there is a fundamental need to improve backhaul capacity today and at a low operational cost.

Looks like we have our work cut out for us!

Simon Roberts – Regional Sales Manager, NEA

Cambridge Broadband Networks to demo VectaStar at CEWC 2008

Berlin 22-26 September

Next week at the Carrier Ethernet World Congress in Berlin, Cambridge Broadband Networks will be demonstrating Point-to-Multipoint microwave Ethernet backhaul functionality in the Carrier Ethernet environment. Services include concurrent native Ethernet, 802.1Q VLAN and legacy TDM services as part of the larger test network. Equipment will include a VectaStar Base Station with a mix of frequencies including 26 GHz and 3 CPEs all controlled by {an early release of} the new VectaStar NMS.

Contact us at if you are able to attend the event and would like to make an appointment to meet with us. We look forward to seeing you there!

Meet Cambridge Broadband Networks at the following events

September 2008

Carrier Ethernet World Congress (CEWC) 2008

22 – 26 September 2008, Berlin, Germany

Cambridge Broadband Networks are participating in the multi-vendor Interoperability showcase organised by the European Advanced Networking test Centre (EANTC) at the Carrier Ethernet World Congress (CEWC) 2008.

More than 25 vendors will be showcasing an Interoperability Carrier network supporting MEF defined business services, residential triple play services, and mobile backhaul solutions.

October 2008

WiMAX 2008

15 – 16 October 2008, London, UK

In October this year, Cambridge Broadband Networks’ VP of Market Strategy, Lance Hiley will be speaking at WiMAX London 2008.

WiMAX London 2008 is a well established annual conference organised by the IET Communications Technical and Professional Network. In this years’ conference, delegates will get to grips with the real opportunities of WiMAX and the latest and in progress deployment plans from the UK’s major buyers

November 2008

Africacom

18 – 19 November 2008, Cape Town, South Africa

Stand number: D18b

Cambridge Broadband Networks will be exhibiting at Africacom in November this year. Now in its 11th year, AfricaCom is the flagship event within the Com World Series and the premier pan-African communications event.

For a decade, this event has comprised a high-level conference and co-located exhibition and year-on-year continues to be the best place to meet existing clients and build new contacts in the region.

Win an iPod Touch

Terms and conditions of entry

1. This competition is open to adults (in the UK, persons aged 18 years or over) only. Employees of Cambridge Broadband Networks Limited (or any of its affiliated companies), their families, and anyone else associated with this competition, are excluded from entering.
2. All information detailing how to enter this competition forms part of these terms and conditions. It is a condition of entry that all rules are accepted as final and that the competitor agrees to abide by these rules. The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Submission of an entry will be taken to mean acceptance of these terms and conditions.
3. Entries must be submitted by
4. All entries must be clearly labelled with the entrant’s name. Entrants should include their own name, address and telephone number. Any photographs must not exceed the maximum image size of 10Mb.
5. All entries must be received by 15 December 2008.
6. All images submitted must be the work of the individual submitting them. It is the responsibility of each entrant to ensure that any images they submit have been taken with the permission of any people included in such images, and do not infringe any laws or the copyright of any third party. Entrants warrant that the photograph they are submitting is their own work and that they own the copyright for it.
7. Copyright in all images submitted for this competition remains with the respective entrants. However, in consideration of us providing this competition, each entrant grants a worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual licence to Cambridge Broadband Networks Limited to use any or all of the submitted images in our website, promotional literature and other publications. No payment will be made to the entrant for such use.
8. Late, incomplete or corrupt entries will not be accepted. No responsibility can be accepted for lost entries and proof of transmission will not be accepted as proof of receipt. Entries must not be sent through agencies or third parties.
9. The winning entry will be the one that is judged to be the most visually appealing, original, and representative of Cambridge Broadband Networks’ product. The winner will be notified within seven days of the closing date of the competition. There will be one winner only. Judging shall be carried out by the marketing department of Cambridge Broadband Networks.
10. The winners may be required to take part in publicity.
11. The prize as described are available on the date of publication. All prizes are non transferable and there are no cash alternatives.
12. Events may occur that render the competition itself or the awarding of the prizes impossible due to reasons beyond the control of Cambridge Broadband Networks. Accordingly, we may at our absolute discretion vary or amend the promotion and the entrant agrees that no liability shall attach to us as a result.
13. No payment is required to enter this competition.
14. English law applies to these terms and conditions and the English Courts shall have jurisdiction over any dispute arising out of the competition or these terms and conditions.