Extricom VoWLAN solutions - The Facts

Voice optimised fourth generation WLAN architecture

Extricom Wi-Fi WLAN architecture is a 4
th
generation solution designed for Triple Play (Voice, Video,
Data) environments.
Most traditional vendors supply 3
rd
generation solutions. Fourth generation solutions are designed for
Triple Play environments. In a sector report research consultants Gartner commented:
Vendors usually supply second-generation, stand-alone access points and either third generation, centralized or
fourth-generation, traffic-optimized architecture systems.
Third generation systems offload security and roaming at a minimum to a central controller, which is connected to
the APs ...
Fourth-generation systems supplement this with software that controls access to the network by granting time
slots for transmission vs. the client-controlled Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA)
mechanism of third-generation and earlier systems. .
Fourth-generation systems employ more sophisticated network access schemes to further improve voice
quality and are most popular when voice is a mainstream application.
Source: Gartner - Magic Quadrant for Wireless LAN Infrastructure
Gartner identified only two vendors of 4
th
generation WLAN infrastructure, Extricom and Meru. Meru
has paid 2.4 million to Extricom to settle out of court a patent infringement claim.
Exclusive technology
The Extricom 4
th
generation WLAN solution is exclusive to Extricom the solution uses a patented
single radio channel Channel Blanket technology
Meru and other vendors do not use this technology. Past Meru products may have used the Extricom
technology but future Meru products wont use the technology. Meru has paid Extricom $2.4m to
settle a patent infringement claim. Meru has stated that it will not use Extricom's technology in any
future developments.
On April 13, 2012, the Company and Extricom Ltd. (Extricom) entered into a settlement, license and release
agreement (the Extricom Agreement). As part of the Extricom Agreement, the Company paid Extricom $2.4
million in April 2012.
the Company received from the Extricom Agreement: (1) release of past infringement claims and (2) a
license to Extricom technology. The Company does not believe the Extricom license will provide future value
as the Company does not plan to utilize the underlying technology in any future product development.
Source: MERU NETWORKS INC FORM 10-Q (03/31/12 Quarterly Report)




White Paper
http://bit.ly/RP6luR


30% less costly than traditional Wi-Fi infrastructure
An Extricom Wi-Fi infrastructure solution with its Channel Blanket technology is less time and cost
expensive to deploy than solutions from traditional enterprise Wi-Fi vendors.
Because the solution uses a single radio channel Channel Blanket technology
there is no co-channel interference and APs can be placed where they are
needed. This reduces the need for intricate cell planning and time consuming
installation and testing.
In a sample case an Extricom solution was 30% less costly to deploy and operate than a solution from
a leading traditional cell-based WLAN vendor. When an Extricom solution is deployed:
Deployment costs can be 63% lower
Capital costs can be 17% lower
Source: Total Cost of Ownership of the Extricom WLAN White Paper

For the enterprise the Channel Blanket technology means:
Lower TCO
Quicker deployment

For the installer the Channel Blanket solution with its deployment advantages translate into greater
productivity and enhanced margin as a result of:

Less time on site doing complex surveys and installation set up
More competitive TCO bids
No call backs to fix co-channel interference issues arising from changes in the environment
No handover problems
The Extricom solution eliminates AP-to-AP handoff, which ensures seamless mobility, continuity of
security session, and optimal service delivery. It is the ideal solution for building WLAN infrastructure
for converged voice (VoWLAN), data, and video, with the dependability and simplicity of a wired
network.
A single radio channel Channel Blanket is used to provide the Wi-Fi coverage and co-channel
interference is non-existent.
For the enterprise the Channel Blanket technology means:
Robust voice solutions
No call drop outs
Long term voice performance stability
For the installer this translates into greater productivity and enhanced margin as a result of:
Less time on site doing complex surveys and installation set up
No call backs to fix handover issues arising from changes in the environment




Case Study
http://bit.ly/XfZKwQ
Triple Play Services capable
The Extricom solution with its Channel Blanket technology enables Voice, Video and Data to be
provisioned over multiple Channel Blankets. The solution is one of the few, if not the only solution,
available in the market which can deliver a robust Triple Play Services solution.
Triple play service is a marketing term for the provisioning of Voice Video and Data services, over a
single network connection. In WLAN terms this means using the enterprise wireless network to
support Wi-Fi handsets, data PCs and the multimedia capability of BYODs. The early generations
of Wi-Fi infrastructure were developed for delay-tolerant data applications. Wi-Fi infrastructure using
generation 3 or lower is not suited to video and voice and data.
The Extricom fourth generation Wi-Fi infrastructure solutions are the first generation of Wi-Fi
infrastructure to truly manage Triple Play service provisioning.
The Fourth-generation systems employ more sophisticated network access schemes which improve voice quality
and are most popular when voice is a mainstream application.
(Source: Gartner - Magic Quadrant for Wireless LAN Infrastructure).
For the enterprise the Channel Blanket technology means:
More secure data
Robust voice solutions
Easy BOYD policy implementation
For the installer this translates into greater productivity and enhanced margin as a result of:
Less time on site doing complex surveys and installation set up
No call backs to fix co-channel interference issues arising from changes in the environment
BYOD friendly
The Extricom solution allows a physical separation between BYOD, voice and data services. This
enables it to support a robust BYOD policy where traditional infrastructure technologies struggle. The
ability to enable multiple Channel Blankets from the infrastructure makes the solution unique in the
the market.
Traditional Wi-Fi infrastructure technologies struggle to support the conflicting demands of the BYOD
and corporate voice and data user.
BYOD users expect robust reliable multimedia capability. The enterprise expects maximum
productivity from its voice and data applications and requires its network to be secure. To support
BYOD the WLAN must support device density as well as deliver high bandwidth capacity to each
device whilst not impacting the performance of the enterprise voice or data applications.
With a recent move to become an Academy and the additional freedoms available to
further support the schools ambitions, a robust wireless LAN solution to enable the
schools network team to implement a campus-wide BYOD strategy was considered an
essential part of the schools aim to enable students to succeed both personally and
academically, now and in the future.



Case Study
http://bit.ly/Q8qXjC
A combination of Linksys and DLink access points had led to constant RF network restructuring and the addition of
a new building meant the existing solution simply didnt work and would certainly never be able to perform at the
level required to deploy true BYOD practices and ultimately enhance student learning.
(Source: Case Study Haybridge High School and Sixth form).
For the enterprise the Channel Blanket technology means
More secure network
Easy BOYD policy implementation
For the installer this translates into greater productivity and enhanced margin as a result of:
Less time on site doing complex surveys and installation set up
More competitive bids
No call backs to fix co-channel interference issues arising from changes in the environment
Everywhere usability
An Extricom Wi-Fi infrastructure delivers hi-bandwidth connectivity around all parts of the Wi-Fi
coverage area.
Traditional Wi-Fi infrastructure solutions are not able to deliver maximum rated connection speed
around the whole Wi-Fi coverage area because of Sticky client devices. When the access point is
nearby, a Wi-Fi device will typically connect at its maximum rated speed. When it moves away from
the AP, or connects to a distant AP the connection speed will be lower than the maximum rated
speed. Because the Wi-Fi device makes the decision when to roam between access points it might
stick to a relatively good AP. This edge effect reduces the performance of whole system.

In an Extricom Wi-Fi infrastructure solution it is the switch which makes the decision which AP the Wi-
Fi device will connect with and will choose the AP which maximises the connection speed. Also,
because the Channel Blanket facilitates a higher density of APs than traditional Wi-Fi infrastructures
the users are always close to an AP and get a better signal meaning a faster transmit/receive
connection and no edge users.
With the simultaneous demands of both the student body and the staff network, the original
Cisco wireless solution installed during the rebuild was faltering. The 3rd generation cell-
based technology was unable to cope with concurrent connections required to get a
classroom of 30 users seamlessly connected to the network without considerable delay and
performance reduction. And the constant re-arrangement of the flexible seating set-up in one
of the teaching halls also meant that the wireless signal became continuously intermittent.
(Source: Case Study Caludon Castle School).



Video
http://bit.ly/RP7zpY
For the enterprise the centralised controller technology means.
Ability to provision all users equally
Consistent high bandwidth service for all users
Greater productivity as a result of always available access
For the installer this translates into greater productivity and enhanced margin as a result of:
No call backs to fix co-channel interference issues arising from changes in the environment
More channel capacity
The Extricom TrueReuse solution means that users can enjoy up to 10 times more bandwidth than is
achievable with traditional infrastructure solutions.
A WLAN which uses traditional infrastructure technology shares the bandwidth
among the number of users who are connected to it. As the number of users
increase the available bandwidth for the individual user falls. TrueReuse
increases capacity by permitting simultaneous transmissions on the same channel
within the Channel Blanket. For more information check out the link.
For the enterprise TruReuse means:
Consistent high bandwidth service for all users
Greater productivity as a result of always available access
For the installer this translates into enhanced sales as a result of:
Unique bid features
Wi-Fi 802.11n & 802.11ac capability
Extricom infrastructure delivers 802.11n performance today and is 802.11ac capable with none of the
inherent co-channel interference issues which will be more problematic in traditional WI-Fi
infrastructure deployments of 802.11ac solutions.
802.11ac solutions will require more APs for a given area than current WI-Fi deployments.
Traditional infrastructure Wi-Fi solutions will suffer from more co-channel interference. Although
aimed at the consumer marker 802.11ac will migrate into the enterprise as a result of BYOD making it
imperative that enterprise solutions are 802.11ac.
For the enterprise Extricom infrastructure means:
Future proofed solution
For the installer this translates into enhanced sales as a result of:
Unique bid features




Fourth generation centralised architecture
Extricom Wi-Fi infrastructure uses a centralised 4
th
generation WLAN switch to coordinate media
access for all of the connected APs and eliminate co-channel interference, which leads to higher
performance and more stable operation under heavy load.
The 3rd-generation wireless networks also use centralised controllers but these do not control access
to the network as Gartner explained,
Fourth-generation systems supplement this with software that controls access to the network by granting time
slots for transmission vs. the client-controlled Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA)
mechanism of third-generation and earlier systems. .
Source: Gartner - Magic Quadrant for Wireless LAN Infrastructure
In the Extricom solution the centralised switch makes all of the decisions for packet delivery on the
wireless network. The access points (APs) simply function as radios, with no software, storage
capability, MAC or IP address.
Clients associate with the switch, not with the AP. The switch decides which AP a client should be
connected to. The APs are "ultra-thin" with the entire media access control (MAC) layer at the switch.
So, once a client is in contact with the WLAN, it never hands off to a different channel: when it moves
within range of a different AP, the switch diverts the data connection to that AP, and the client device
is none the wiser.
For the enterprise the Extricom centralised infrastructure means:
Seamless roaming
For the installer this means:
Denser and simpler deployment of access points
More freedom in selecting access point placement
No co-channel interference to manage