Atria Networks Standardizes on Ruckus Wireless to Bring Outdoor Wi-Fi Indoors and to Create In-Building Hot Spots

Ruckus MetroFlex Becomes First Wi-Fi Modem to Receive Cisco CTDP Certification for Interoperation with Cisco’s Outdoor Wireless Mesh System

SUNNYVALE, CA, April 16, 2007 – Ruckus Wireless today announced that it has been selected by Atria Networks (Atria), a leading broadband and wireless service provider in Canada, to supply its Ruckus MetroFlex Wi-Fi modem to extend Atria’s Metro Wi-Fi services indoors. Atria Networks is also using Ruckus Wireless Smart Wi-Fi systems to create in-building hot spots.

Ruckus Wireless also said that it has completed Cisco’s Certified Technology Developer Program (CTDP) interoperability testing and that its MetroFlex indoor wireless gateway is the first Wi-Fi modem to be CTDP certified by Cisco.

Atria operates an extensive network of over 2500 route kilometers of fiber optics. In addition, Atria Networks provides outdoor Wi-Fi connectivity and is a Cisco Powered Metro Ethernet Carrier. It has built and operates a Cisco Unified Wireless Network with over 200 Cisco metro Wi-Fi mesh nodes that span 15 square kilometers throughout Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge, Ontario. Atria is focused primarily on business-to-business services and offers a minimum of 1 Mbps (synchronous) for its Wi-Fi service.

“After deploying our mesh infrastructure, it became imperative that we could ensure business-class quality connectivity indoors to our network outdoors,” said Stu Wilson, Vice President at Atria Networks. “Because the penetration of the Wi-Fi signal within buildings was very poor, it became quickly evident that a CPE device was required to bring the Wi-Fi mesh indoors.”

“We sell broadband services to businesses many of whom are in commercial buildings constructed of steel and glass. There was also the issue of foliage, obstacles and interference. All of these things led us to look for a high-powered Wi-Fi receiver that could provide a reliable, long-range connection to our Wi-Fi mesh. Ruckus had the only system designed precisely for this application at a compelling price point.”

Atria is also creating Wi-Fi hotspots in airports, libraries, universities and public areas. “We like the ability to partition the wireless network with the Ruckus system to create virtual wireless networks using multiple SSIDs and VLANs,” said Wilson. “This gives us the flexibility to offer a richer set of services such as tiered access, specialized SSIDs for voice or IP-based video.”

Atria’s business model for wireless is to provide business-class hotspot services beyond data, extend campus coverage and provide predictable Wi-Fi connectivity for remote access. Subscribers can purchase Ruckus MetroFlex Wi-Fi modems or rent them from Atria. Wireless 802.11g access can be purchased on an hourly, daily or monthly rate of $5, $10 and $25 respectively. Uplink speeds range from 1 Mbps (at minimum) up to over 10 Mbps (depending on location). “We’ve designed the system so that 80 percent of subscribers are guaranteed 1 Mbps upstream and down,” said Stu Wilson.

According to Atria, a key criterion in the selection of a CPE vendor was how well the products worked with what was already installed. “We were pleased to know that the Ruckus MetroFlex was certified by Cisco within its CTDP program.”

The Cisco Technology Developer Program sets criteria for interoperability testing and helps leading product and services firms to deploy innovative business solutions. The program provides enterprise or service provider customers with information regarding Cisco Technology Developer Partner products and services that the Cisco Technology Developer Partner believes meet the program's criteria for interoperability with Cisco networking technology.

Through the CTDP, Cisco has certified the interoperability of the Ruckus Wireless MetroFlex with Cisco’s Intelligent Wireless Mesh Solution.

“Cisco supports open, standards-based architectures and shares a commitment to interoperable solutions with Ruckus Wireless. Through this vision the Cisco Technology Developer Program delivers the power of choice to enterprises or service providers – the ability to extend the Cisco end-to-end architecture with our participants’ solid products and technologies,” said Ajay Mishra, Senior Manager of Business Development within Cisco. “With Cisco Technology Developer Program member offerings such as the Ruckus MetroFlex, customers can deploy a broad range of business solutions that foster innovation and drive rapid adoption of business-critical technologies.”