Fixed Wireless Provider Airband Expands in Orlando

Airband Communications, the largest fixed-wireless voice and data provider for businesses in the U.S., today announced that it has expanded its network operations to serve Orlando, a market where more than 450 hotels have an insatiable appetite for high-quality and rapidly scalable Internet access to meet the needs of conventions, business travelers and tourists.

In addition to serving Orlando's hospitality market, Airband's fixed-wireless network will deliver high-quality voice and data services to businesses, entertainment venues and other commercial locations such as multi-tenant office buildings. To meet Orlando's strong demand for voice and data services over Airband's fixed-wireless network, Airband is selling services directly and indirectly through its agents and other channel partners.

Airband's flexible operating philosophy and fixed-wireless network is attractive to businesses, the hospitality industry in particular, because Airband can deliver a dedicated circuit for a hotel's guest Internet traffic and a separate circuit for special events, such as conventions.

Airband is already deploying data services to Orlando customers, including a world-class resort with more than 2,000 guest rooms and expansive meeting space that draws conventions and business travelers from across the globe. Initial orders for Airband's fixed-wireless data services cover about 5,000 hotel rooms throughout Orlando, as well as numerous standalone commercial businesses.

"Orlando hoteliers have grown tired of inadequate data service experienced with the local phone and cable infrastructure because it's vital that guests be satisfied with their high-speed Internet access," said Daman Wood, Airband's executive vice president of sales. "We support hotels' back-office traffic and guest Internet access with separate, highly scalable circuits so hotels can rapidly increase bandwidth for short periods of time based on needs of guests and conventions. This flexibility enhances the guest experience while creating additional revenue opportunities for the property itself."

Airband's scalable fixed-wireless solution is significantly different than wired "burstable" broadband offerings from phone or cable companies where usage billing above the bandwidth threshold can be unpredictable. With Airband, hotels control the amount of bandwidth that's available, and when needed, they pay only for a specific increase in bandwidth, therefore creating predictable data performance and a pre-determined cost ceiling. Hospitality customers are not restricted to buying services in T1 or DS3 increments, as Airband can provide services ranging from 2 MB to GigE speeds.

The scalability of Airband's fixed-wireless network means it can consistently meet increased customer demands for hosted applications, including VoIP. In addition, because Airband's fixed-wireless network bypasses the local phone and cable infrastructure, customers don't have to worry about downtime that can be caused by cable cuts, wet wires or other issues.

Airband serves 17 markets across the U.S., including Atlanta; Austin; Baltimore; Dallas; Fort Lauderdale; Fort Worth; Houston; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Miami; Orange County, Calif.; Orlando; Philadelphia; Phoenix; San Antonio; San Diego and Washington, D.C.