FAA Buys Terabeam Free-Space Optics Systems

REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 21 --Terabeam Corp., a provider of broadband wireless systems, announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has purchased its free-space optics (FSO) systems to connect its facilities in Albuquerque, N.M.

The FAA deployed Terabeam's FSO fast Ethernet system, Terabeam Elliptica, which provides voice and data transmission of 100 Mb/s, equivalent to 65 T-1 circuits. The FSO systems connect several FAA remote facilities to its main network.

The system uses FSO technology to send an invisible, eye-safe beam of laser light through the air. The signal is carried on the same kind of light that is inside a fiber optic cable, but through a wireless connection; it's directed from rooftops, towers or directly through windows to another location. In addition to providing LAN-to-LAN or campus connectivity, FSO systems can be used to extend a fiber network to additional buildings and for cellular backhaul, spatial diversity and disaster recovery applications.

Terabeam has also recently announced projects with the Office of Homeland Security and Public Safety in New Orleans, the US National Communications System and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

For more information, visit: www.terabeam.com