The network extends over 20 kilometers (approximately 12 1/2 miles) of the river. Now from Greenwich in South East London, to Milbank in the West, anyone with a Wi-Fi enabled device can connect to the Internet at almost any location along the Thames.
Global Reach Group selected Proxim's ORiNOCO AP-4000MR product family because of its dual-radio architecture that supports mesh backhaul and Wi-Fi client access. Its multiple VLAN/SSID combinations are intended to support a wide range of existing service providers in addition to their own services. The weatherproof rugged outdoor housing was a key factor in the product selection, providing a complete, self-contained device that has been quickly and easily deployed on buildings, piers, and other structures near the water.
One of the access points has been installed at the Greenwich site of the famous tea clipper, the Cutty Sark. As well as providing Internet access, it is also planned to provide support for web cam access to view the restoration process of this famous London landmark. In addition to expanding hotspot service further along the river, Global Reach Group's future plans for the network include offering broadband Internet access to commuters and enabling wireless video surveillance for public safety.
"Providing fast, convenient, and easy-to-use broadband access to boat traffic and the Thames river community is the core of our business," said Nigel Wesley, CEO, Global Reach Group. "To ensure that we deliver on that promise, we chose Proxim Wireless as our partner. Proxim's outdoor mesh products enable us to provide our customers with highly reliable Internet access at an affordable price. We look forward to a continued long relationship with Proxim as we work to deploy a wireless network that will serve the entire population in the heart of the capital."
In a mesh network, nodes provide Wi-Fi access to end users while also connecting to each other to share bandwidth, identify fastest routes around the network, and enable complete redundancy. Proxim's mesh technology simplifies Wi-Fi deployments such as Global Reach Group's deployment through the ORiNOCO Mesh Creation Protocol (OMCP), which allows creation of self-forming and self-healing non-line of sight (NLOS) mesh networks.
"Working together with Global Reach Group, we have delivered a robust, cost-effective, and scalable outdoor mesh network that provides users with Internet access even while traveling in a boat on the River Thames," said Lionel Chmilewsky, senior vice president, Proxim International. "As this mobile broadband capability demonstrates, our Wi-Fi mesh technology and products are ideally suited for applications requiring excellent price/performance, high network reliability and availability, and ease of expansion. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Global Reach Group."
