Cambridge Broadband Networks delivers on 4G for O2

The Vectastar multipoint microwave backhaul technology, a significant advance on traditional microwave technologies, mirrors the network configuration found in the radio access network (the interface between cell tower and mobile handset), and allows O2 to backhaul mobile traffic from multiple cell towers to a single aggregation point. This fundamental change in backhaul network architecture delivers significant advantages in terms of cost and efficiency, particularly for next generation mobile.

Graham Peel, CEO of Cambridge Broadband Networks said: LTE networks offer enormous promise for mobile operators and the consumers they serve but the huge volumes of data traffic they are capable of generating, demand a new approach to backhaul. It is a challenge we designed our VectaStar solutions to meet – in addition to delivering the raw capacity requirement for LTE, the efficiency gains inherent in multipoint microwave can significantly reduce the cost per megabyte.

Cambridge Broadband Networks is one of the fastest growing microwave companies in the world, evidenced by the company's inclusion in the Sunday Times Tech Track 100 in each of the last three years. Its VectaStar equipment is being used to backhaul most of the sites involved in the London 4G trial. O2's 4G trial will use the 2.6 GHz spectrum band. VectaStar will use the available 28 GHz band.

During the trial O2 will provide participants with Samsung B3730 mobile broadband dongles, supporting speeds of up to 100Mbps, and well as personal Wi-Fi hotspot devices and handsets from a number of other vendors.