MeshDynamics announced on Jan. 31 (2005) the availability of an innovative mesh networking solution that yields greater than a 50x bandwidth improvement over traditional mesh networks. The MD-300 family of 3-Radio Structured MeshTM software and systems features a unique multi-radio, multi-channel backhaul (relay) path with automatic channel selection, providing a significant performance improvement for VoIP and mobile data applications, including Public Safety networks.
With one radio to relay packets through the mesh, a conventional mesh node can’t send and receive data at the same time. In addition, all mesh radios share the same spectrum in conventional mesh, causing even more degradation when traffic is high. MeshDynamics’ 3-radio Structured Mesh employs a (patent pending) set of algorithms that uses 2-radios per backhaul path per node (both 802.11a) as well as separate service radios (typically 802.11b/g) – all on different spectrum – eliminating both problems.
MeshDynamics CEO Bob Osann sees VoIP as the ‘killer application’ for mesh networking. “When compared with cellular, Structured Mesh solutions offer more than a 100x advantage in cost-per-minute-per-user when supporting dense VoIP. Compared with conventional mesh solutions, our cost-per-Kb-per-user exceeds 10x for an entire deployment, given realistic traffic levels.”
Insight: Mesh technology is driving the roll out of Wi-Fi metropolitan area networking (MAN) in major cities around the world from companies like Tropos, BelAir, Strix Systems and Firetide. MeshDynamics appears to have an architecture that will provide more robust support for networks in which significant traffic or VoIP is anticipated. MeshDynamics is a young start up but if they can get customers and additional capital, then they could become a major force in this important, fast growing new market.
