Proxim Wireless Unwires Third Annual Commonwealth Youth Games In Pune

Proxim Wireless, a provider of end-to-end broadband wireless systems that deliver the quadruple play, has successfully provided both the indoor and outdoor Wi-Fi connectivity as well as point-to-multipoint connectivity for the third annual Commonwealth Youth Games, which were hosted in Pune, India from October 12-18, 2008. IL&FS Ecosmart selected Proxim’s Tsunami MP.11 WiMAX capable products and Proxim’s ORiNOCO Wi-Fi Mesh to provide Wi-Fi connectivity to over 1,300 athletes and 350 officials across 15 locations.

The 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games were the first to feature athletes from all 71 Commonwealth countries. The wireless network for the games needed to interconnect and cover 10 different stadiums and five hostels throughout Pune. In order to ensure consistent, high-performance wireless connectivity for all participants, a single system that could provide seamless integration between WiMAX capable and Wi-Fi mesh technologies was needed. After evaluating competing systems, IL&FS Ecosmart selected Proxim.

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“To prepare for the Commonwealth Youth Games, a wireless system was needed that could ensure reliable Wi-Fi connectivity for all of the athletes, officials and attendees throughout all of the facilities,” said Ravi Chillara, CEO of IL&FS Wireless Infrastructure and Services division. “To interconnect 15 locations and provide connectivity, it was evident we needed a system, which incorporated both WiMAX and Wi-Fi mesh seamlessly in one solution. Proxim provided an easy-to-use solution and its ability to integrate WiMAX capable and Wi-Fi mesh radios in a single system minimised the number of hops needed in the network.”

To connect the 10 stadiums and five hostels with a limited number of radios, IL&FS Ecosmart selected Proxim’s Tsunami MP.11 WiMAX capable products to connect multiple subscriber units located at each location to a central base station unit. They then utilised Proxim’s ORiNOCO Wi-Fi Mesh series radios to provide both indoor and outdoor Wi-Fi connectivity, which integrated with the Tsunami MP.11 radios, which provided the backhaul to the central backbone. Because all Proxim products (Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi mesh, WiMAX and point-to-point) are designed to work together, IL&FS Ecosmart was able to deploy the Proxim network easily and efficiently.

The Proxim network supported the entire Commonwealth Youth Games from October 12-18. Though the network was originally designed only to support the event, IL&FS Ecosmart is now considering building a permanent city-wide wireless network to support more than 30 e-services.