- Comcast is the first customer of a high-tech van that extends Wi-Fi signals to support events, remote locations and disaster recovery sites
- Innovative, self-contained mobile solution loaded with industry-firsts, geared for rapid dispatch and deployment
- Wi-Fi on Wheels will be on display at INTX 2016, May 16-18, in Ericsson booth #341
NEW YORK, May 16, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today at the Internet & Television Expo 2016 (INTX) in Boston, Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) wheeled out the nation's first high-tech mobile Wi-Fi unit that will potentially give thousands of people outdoor wireless access while on the go in cities throughout the U.S.
The customized Ford Transit 350 cargo van is outfitted with six Wi-Fi access points - enough to serve an estimated 2,500 people attending an event. Comcast worked with Ericsson to bring the vision to life and plans to use the vans to support community activities, sporting events and emergency response initiatives.
The van specifications also include a number of industry-firsts, including multiple network access connections, non-line-of-sight (NLOS) microwave backhaul, onboard backup power and modular deployment elements that enable Comcast to launch operations in minutes.
Angel Ruiz, President and CEO, Ericsson North America, says: "Driving innovation means not only bringing the best technology, but also enabling it to be used in new ways. This new rapid deployment solution will mean fast dispatch and hassle-free setup for Comcast, so they can bring coverage to new hard to reach locations."
Eric Schaefer, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Communications, Data and Mobility for Comcast Cable, says: "Comcast manages the world's largest Wi-Fi network and we continue to look for innovative ways to provide consumers with access to XFINITY WiFi in even more places."
Wi-Fi coverage has been primarily limited to locations where there are network facilities and it is economically viable to develop the Wi-Fi capability at that location. The Wi-Fi on Wheels solution is able to provide Wi-Fi service without the constraint of site construction, as the van itself supports an optional wireless link for backhaul connectivity. The mobile nature of the solution allows it to bring rapid dispatch and deployment in disaster recovery situations, as well as support community events and special remote promotions, providing a coverage radius of up to 500 feet.
Wi-Fi on Wheels will be on display in Ericsson booth #341 at INTX 2016, May 16-18 in the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
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Ericsson is the driving force behind the Networked Society - a world leader in communications technology and services. Our long-term relationships with every major telecom operator in the world allow people, business and society to fulfill their potential and create a more sustainable future.
Our services, software and infrastructure - especially in mobility, broadband and the cloud - are enabling the telecom industry and other sectors to do better business, increase efficiency, improve the user experience and capture new opportunities.
With approximately 115,000 professionals and customers in 180 countries, we combine global scale with technology and services leadership. We support networks that connect more than 2.5 billion subscribers. Forty percent of the world's mobile traffic is carried over Ericsson networks. And our investments in research and development ensure that our solutions - and our customers - stay in front.
Founded in 1876, Ericsson has its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. Net sales in 2015 were SEK 246.9 billion (USD 29.4 billion). Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX stock exchange in Stockholm and the NASDAQ in New York.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
Ericsson Media Relations North America
Jimmy Duvall
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E-mail: jimmy.duvall@ericsson.com
Press release (PDF) http://hugin.info/136157/R/2012848/745811.pdf
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