Accel Networks Introduces First Smart Antenna System That Optimizes Business Wireless Performance for both 3G and 4G Cellular Networks

Maestro™ Addresses Low Data Rates, Latency, Jitter and Link Issues Associated with Fixed Cellular Broadband Service While Offering Highest Carrier-to-Noise Ratio Creating Link Performance, Availability That Meets or Surpasses Service Levels for T1s, MPLS and DSL

IHOP Franchisee Romulus Inc. Validates Impact of Maestro

MIAMI Feb. 1, 2012 –Accel Networks, a leading provider of managed fixed cellular broadband services for business, today announced here — at the 4G Wireless Evolution Conference & Expo — that its newly formed division Accel Technologies is introducing Maestro™, the first smart antenna system for businesses that optimizes wireless performance for both 3G and 4G cellular networks.

Over the past ten years, Accel has perfected wireless network implementation, installation, monitoring and management through proprietary equipment, operational processes and management tools. Enterprise organizations are rapidly moving applications to the cloud, increasing the demand for stable, broadband connectivity that can be deployed faster and at a lower price point than comparable terrestrial broadband. With the advent of 4G service and the last mile optimized by Maestro, wireless can now become the network option of choice.

Maestro addresses the need for better and more cost effective connectivity, tackling issues such as low data rates, latency, jitter and link availability that until now had been viewed as a limitation for enterprise wireless service. The patent-pending, self-optimizing Maestro system includes eight antennas, three switchable filter banks and embedded LNA offering over 500 discreet setting options to generate and maintain the highest carrier-to-noise ratio creating link performance and availability that meets or surpasses service levels for T1s, MPLS and DSL. The performance of the antenna combined with the cloud-based monitoring and management platform adds a new dimension to fixed cellular broadband deployments.

“Fixed wireless broadband is primed for rapid growth and Accel’s Maestro is the first antenna system that bridges the gap in quality and performance between wireless and wired broadband,” said Mark Gianinni, CEO of Accel. “With 6,000 installations, we have a proven business history that demonstrates our ability to provide exceptional wireless broadband services.” Romulus Successfully Testing Maestro

Among the first users of Maestro is IHOP Franchisee Romulus, Inc. According to Bud Morgan, director of technology for Romulus, “We’ve been testing Maestro at a location where we’ve had trouble historically. I have been very impressed by the ability of this antenna to automatically optimize signal strength.”

“Seventy-one percent of companies are including wireless within their WAN architecture,” said Philip Clarke, research analyst, Nemertes Research. “As companies increasingly rely on fixed wireless for mission critical applications, they will evaluate offerings on their ability to guarantee appropriate service levels. Optimizations tailored for fixed wireless can significantly improve radio propagation characteristics, meet exceptional SLA’s and result in much-improved customer experiences.”

Maestro More Than Just a Smart Antenna

The Maestro value proposition extends beyond installation and optimization and includes a powerful RF link monitoring platform, traffic analytics and remote asset management, all delivered through the secure Maestro Portal. From a single dashboard Maestro enterprise clients can perform the following:

• View the status and quality in real-time of a single link or all multiple site links on a national, regional or statewide basis or by zip code.
• View inbound/outbound traffic statistics in megabytes or connection time for each endpoint as well as define utilization thresholds, generate alerts and avoid overage fees.
• View and manage remote equipment inventory, tracking numbers and asset history.
• When required, re-optimize Maestro on the fly or schedule a re–optimization for non-peak busy time.

In addition to maximizing the performance of fixed cellular broadband deployments, Maestro costs less to install, reduces truck rolls and collapses mean time to restore (MTTR).

Maestro has global applicability and will be available for distribution on March 1. In addition, Maestro is designed for bundling into turnkey applications delivered via cellular broadband without the risk of poor application performance caused by wireless link latency. The Maestro management platform will be offered on a subscription based service with the purchase of the antenna.

About Accel Networks (www.accel-networks.com)

Accel is the leading provider of managed fixed cellular broadband services in North America. It provides a consistent and robust fixed cellular broadband experience across customer sites as well as asset tracking, real-time traffic utilization and management of a private PCI compliant gateway. Drawing on its expertise in fixed wireless networking, Accel developed and deploys a proprietary system platform that optimizes, monitors and manages fixed cellular broadband links. This enables the company to offer the only comprehensive SLA that covers link availability, data rates and roundtrip latency, underpinning Accel’s award winning service. The company’s multi-carrier, PCI-compliant cellular broadband service spans all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canadian population centers.

More About Maestro™

View PDF of Maestro Press Release

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