ABI sees 'real' wireless mesh deployments on MSO horizon

Jeff Baumgartner, CED

Although wireless mesh technology is in its "early days," indications are that North American cable operators are getting trials underway, and that "real deployments" could launch in the next 12 to 18 months, according to a new report from ABI Research [1].

Among recent evidence, ABI points out that operators have been quietly investing in wireless mesh vendors and helping to drive the direction of wireless mesh technology.

Comcast Interactive Capital, for example, helped to lead a round of financing [2] in BelAir Networks. [3] BelAir followed up last month with the announcement of a technical advisory board [4] comprised of cable execs.

"BelAir's move serves further to underscore that cable MSOs could become a very significant component in mesh networking in North America," said Sam Lucero, ABI's senior analyst of wireless connectivity research.