BeamReach Networks, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California, raised $15 million in third round funding for its broadband wireless access systems based on adaptive beam-forming technology. BeamReach’s BeamPlex system based on Adaptive MultiBeam OFDM technology has been involved in an extensive trial with Verizon in Virginia since July 2002. Investors in this series C financing include The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Sofinnova Ventures, Inc., Walden International, Mitsui & Co. Venture Partners, Inc., and London Pacific Life and Annuity Company.
http://www.beamreachnetworks.com
- BeamReach Networks is developing a broadband wireless access system based on adaptive beam forming and null steering technology, enabling it to deliver services to thousands of users over a large cell area of up to 21 miles in radius. BeamReach’s platform, which initially operates in MMDS and WCS spectrum, combines adaptive beam forming, frequency diversity, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and time division duplexing (TDD). The system would be able to support end-user service rates ranging from 64 kbps to 1.5 Mbps downstream and as high as 1.2 Mbps upstream. Base stations are engineered to handle full link rate and capacity at full cell radius over non-line-of-sight (NLOS) paths of up to 21 miles. BeamReach claims its technology yields a 10 times improvement in spectral efficiency and up to 16 times improvement in cell coverage area over 3G technologies.
BeamReach Networks is headed by Bob Kelsch, who previously held senior executive positions at Nortel Networks. Its technical team is led by Dale Branlund, who was one of three founders and Vice President of Engineering of Radix Technologies. The company is based in Sunnyvale, California.