SUNNYVALE, Calif.—Tackling the No. 1 problem reported by users of municipal Wi-Fi networks—poor or nonexistent connections—mesh equipment maker Tropos Networks Inc. said it launched new software designed to help deliver better Wi-Fi connections to end users, which the company said results in fewer customer service problems and, thus, lower costs for operators.
Tropos said its new software, called Adaptive Mesh Connectivity Engine, improves connections in metro-scale Wi-Fi systems. The software runs on the company’s single-radio MetroMesh routers, which are deployed in municipal networks in Anaheim, Calif. and St. Cloud, Fla. The company’s gear is also part of much larger, yet-to-be-launched Wi-Fi networks in New Orleans, Philadelphia and San Francisco.
Another valuable facet of the software is its reporting capabilities, called Tropos Insight, which provides operators with visibility into user information, spelling out which types of devices are being used to access the Wi-Fi network as well as network performance data, said Tropos. This collective data could help network managers cost-effectively manage their assets and understand how and when subscribers are accessing the network.
“Our extensive deployment experience has shown us that client connectivity problems, not capacity, create the single biggest user-experience issue facing metro-scale Wi-Fi network operators,” stated Ellen Kirk, vice president of Marketing for Tropos. “Wi-Fi mesh systems must adapt to a broad range of clients—laptops, PDAs and portable gaming devices, for example—to ensure that network users can connect reliably”
Kirk explained that throwing more radios into mesh networks is not necessarily the best way to solve poor connectivity issues—and is definitely a high-cost solution for network operators.
“In order to make metro-scale networks hum, you need software—really good software,” said Kirk, adding that Tropos has handled more than 300 mesh network installations.
Other Wi-Fi base station vendors, such as Strix Systems, enhance network coverage by offering multi-radio products.
Kirk said it doesn’t matter how well a network is operating if the user experience is bad.
“If throughput is low, or if your network doesn’t compensate for a particular type of client (end-user device), your users will have a bad experience. It’s not just about coverage, it’s about connecting clients,” Kirk said.
Bert Williams, senior director of marketing at Tropos, pointed out the situation in New Orleans, where Wi-Fi is the only Internet connectivity available. He noted that, “In traditional hotspots, like homes or offices, client settings are tweaked for optimal performance within the hotspot. But in New Orleans, there are only a few square miles of broadband access, and it’s the only broadband in the city. People are using PDAs, phones and laptops and they’re moving around. We have seen more than 750 different client types on the New Orleans network within a 24-hour period.”
AMCE is the second announced element of Tropos’ client-connection initiative, the first being its Metro Compliant Extensions, which provides a specification for the wireless modem used for residential and small-business access to metro Wi-Fi networks.
AMCE, part of the MetroMesh OS that ships with each MetroMesh router, is available now, Tropos said.
Interestingly, Kirk divulged that Tropos develops its software in-house, keeping its software developers and engineers as close to the product and its deployments as possible.
