Harris Stratex changes name to Aviat

Aviat Networks Inc. is the new name for wireless backhaul provider Harris Stratex Networks Inc. The company, which was created three years ago with the merger of Stratex Networks and the microwave communications unit of Harris Corp., was required to drop the Harris moniker and decided to choose a new name rather than recycling a former one, said Saun McFall, VP and CMO at Aviat.
Along with the name change, the company’s NASDAQ ticker symbol will change to AVNW.
The new name coincides with renewed excitement as wireless operators continue to build out networks that require greater backhaul bandwidth, McFall said. North American wireless carriers have been cautious in deploying wireless backhaul networks, which is understandable since AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless both have wireline counterparts with deep fiber roots. “Capacity needs are definitely increasing. In the last two years, backhaul is being discussed in public, which is good because it’s increasingly becoming a prominent issue.” As such, McFall said he expects microwave solutions to gain traction in places where fiber is too expensive to install. About 10% of backhaul in North America is wireless today, but McFall expects that figure to increase to between 20% and 25% in the next three to five years. Globally, the mix between wired backhaul and wireless backhaul is even. About 75% of Aviat’s business today is mobile backhaul for operators, McFall noted. The company is especially active in Africa as well as North America.
“The new brand represents a culmination of the company’s transformation over the last three years from that of a specialized microwave backhaul equipment supplier into a world-class provider of advanced IP wireless network solutions, with a comprehensive portfolio of migration solutions and lifecycle services,” the company said in a statement.