Mesh Networks to Drive Wireless Growth in the New Year

Firetide, Inc., a developer of multi-service mesh networks, has released its forward-looking perspective for the wireless networking industry. According to the company, mesh applications for public safety and video surveillance continue to show very strong growth and the company estimates the overall market for IP- based video cameras alone to be well over $650 million in 2007. Reasons given include increased homeland security initiatives, widespread social acceptance of surveillance in public areas, and the many cost benefits of using mesh networks for video installations.

"Public safety is the leading motivator for municipalities deploying wireless networks," said Bo Larsson, CEO of Firetide. "Our strategy to enable conventional surveillance cameras to operate wirelessly over our mesh has become extremely popular with cities and police departments of all sizes. Allowing them to operate cameras anywhere without expensive and restrictive cabling is revolutionizing public safety. And with 24/7 monitoring of more locations, fewer additional officers are needed on the streets, and criminal activity typically goes down by 25 percent or more in these areas resulting in significant reductions in property damage and human injury."

Wireless Industry is Maturing
As wireless networks mature and become more pervasive, the company expects end users to demand better network connectivity and reliability wherever they go.

"The amazing growth of Wi-Fi meshes of all forms is powerful evidence that meshes have established themselves as the most important architecture for wireless networks," said Craig Mathias, a principal with the wireless and mobile advisory firm Farpoint Group (Ashland, MA). "As demands for reliability, performance, and even ubiquity in wireless networks continue to build, meshes are the obvious answer."

In response to demands for major improvements in network performance and services, Firetide has outlined key issues that will drive purchasing decisions for wireless networks in 2007:

* Increased network reliability including improved performance, dependability, and security

* A broader range of services, not just with for video, voice, and wireless access, but also full interoperability with other vendors' equipment and applications as well as multiple wireless spectrums and technology environments

* Ubiquitous connectivity, including currently underserved rural areas and small communities

* High speed mobility for video, voice, and data applications used in public transportation and public safety vehicles

Enterprise Gains Momentum
While most mesh vendors focused solely on selling municipal Wi-Fi solutions, Firetide has consistently delivered its mesh technology to both municipal and enterprise customers. Enterprise mesh networks typically have additional feature requirements including support for non-Wi-Fi devices, seamless integration with existing private networks, multiple security options, and the ability to support and prioritize video, voice, and data streams within the same infrastructure. Today over 50 percent of Firetide installations are for enterprise customers covering a wide range of applications from RFID inventory management to wireless point-of-sale transactions and indoor and outdoor LAN extensions.

"Municipalities have been the first to discover that mesh networks provide added public safety benefits, including simple solutions for connecting wireless cameras to fight crime and access critical databases throughout a community," said Larsson. "Business are following suit and discovering more uses for mesh networks. With this development, we expect video surveillance and enterprise applications to increase as much as eight times in the next three years."