Narad Networks, Inc., a provider of high performance switched broadband access solutions, and MediaCell, Inc., a leader in providing wireless solutions over broadband access networks, today announced the availability of their combined wireless solution for delivering wide area wireless services via the cable operator's hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network.

The combined solution meets the needs of cable operators to stake a claim in the emerging wireless access space. Narad and MediaCell's products uniquely combine to deliver a secure channel resistant to snooping with the Quality of Service (QoS) and tagging requirements needed to support voice and transparent LAN (TLS) services over wireless. Narad's Ethernet over coax solution opens up the operators existing HFC plant to solve the wireless backhaul capacity problem, and MediaCell's 802.11 based solution corrects the security, provisioning, access and subscriber management weaknesses present in many wireless offerings.

"Working together with Narad we are able to offer operators a complete solution that provides the security and symmetric high throughput demanded by discerning business segments such as the healthcare and financial industries," said Don Bishop, CEO, CTO Founder for MediaCell. "The combination of MediaCell's WirelessTap™ with Narad's capacity-enhancing Ethernet-over-Coax solution delivers a highly scalable backhaul network with the security and control of fiber but without the construction cost."

"We're very pleased to work with wireless leader MediaCell in offering a fast, reliable and highly scalable solution for wireless networking," said Michael Collette, Narad Networks CEO. "Cable operators recognize that they need to develop wireless services now as part of a business and muni bundle to avoid being the late-comer to the party. This combined solution fills a large and important product and service gap created by slower, less secure and reliable solutions, and the demands of business customers."

MediaCell's WirelessDrop™ system and WirelessTap deliver a carrier class multi-service platform designed to reside at the edge of existing broadband networks. The WirelessDrop combines control and configuration software, purpose built antenna systems and environmentally hardened enclosure with the MediaCell WirelessTap electronics package. No other unlicensed mobile access technology delivers service at more than 1 Mbps speed and over a wide area. The WirelessTap incorporates smart antennas, an integrated router and flash memory, adaptive routing, advanced security features, and GPS (for enhanced security as well as automation of the installation process). It features self-organizing, self-discovering, and self-healing capabilities to simplify deployments, reduce service outages, and minimize interference. It adapts simple, low-cost radio technologies like Wireless Ethernet and WiMAX to extend existing broadband cable and DSL networks to new customers, and lowers the cost of servicing existing customers.

Narad's Ethernet-over-Coax solution provides up to 100 Mbps x 100 Mbps of additional bandwidth over each coaxial cable span. In combination with Narad Ethernet switches, these 100 Mbps symmetrical links can be switched onto the coax plant at multiple points to provide Gigabits of symmetric bandwidth per node. Narad's switched Ethernet-over-Fiber solution provides Gigabit fiber capacity while making optimally efficient use of existing fiber plant. Narad's Ethernet-based outdoor switches support fiber, coax and wireless inputs and outputs. About MediaCell MediaCell is a pioneer in the development of wireless systems for the delivery of data, voice, video and other IP-based services. In fact, MediaCell invented the concept of utilizing wireless to provide a broadband Internet connection to CABLE HFC and to DSL networks. MediaCell produces patented equipment that is fully standards compliant. Operators have used MediaCell equipment to reach new customers and by marketing wireless broadband service in conjunction with legacy wired broadband service, operators have increased market penetration and ARPU. About Narad Networks Narad Networks is a provider of switched broadband access solutions that enable cable operators to leverage existing coaxial cable and flexibly use fiber and wireless media to deliver high capacity, high performance IP services, including voice, data, video, and enterprise networks. The company's QoS switches and service management software, along with its broad spectrum fiber and coax transmission technologies, support multi-gigabit transport for both commercial and residential customers. Narad's patented Ethernet-over-Coax solution meets the needs of coax-based users that have voice or data needs beyond that which cable modems can offer, while Narad's switched Ethernet-over-Fiber solution provides unprecedented IP capacity to fiber-based customers. Narad is currently deployed with North American and European cable operators.

Based in Westford, Massachusetts, Narad is a privately held company with venture funding from Argo Global Capital, Polaris Venture Partners and other leading venture capital firms. For more information, visit www.naradnetworks.com.