Siemens Deals Out New Zealand Hotspot Hardware

New Zealand metro Wi-Fi supplier RoamAD has signed a distribution agreement with Siemens. The pact helps the Wi-Fi developer extend its reach into Asia, Europe and the U.S.

The distribution agreement first takes aim at the New Zealand market, naturally.

"RoamAD and Siemens will initially be targeting the major telecommunications service providers, large infrastructure owners, as well as university campuses and airports," says Martyn Levy, RoamAD Director.

"RoamAD and Siemens will work together to provide Wi-Fi networks and solutions to targeted network operators initially in New Zealand," according to a company statement.

RoamAD is a supplier of hardware and software for metropolitan Wi-Fi networks. The company says its network "provides a cocoon of Wi-Fi coverage in dense urban environments specifically designed for mobile VoIP."

It is now training Siemens engineers in the design and deployment of its system. The systems include management software, 802.11a/b/g network nodes with embedded radios, and an intelligent network server which communicates with the nodes, or access points, says Levy.

A typical RoamAD metro Wi-Fi network deployment can be found in Auckland's central business district. The hotzone consists of 80 802.11a/b/g radios distributed among 12 buildings.

"RoamAD differs from its competitors in its proven ability to deploy metro Wi-Fi networks in complex, dense, inner city environments with multi-story Wi-Fi coverage," says Levy.

In the deal announced, RoamAD provides Siemens the hardware and software. "Siemens in turn will market RoamAD's Wi-Fi solutions to its customers and then design, deploy and integrate the networks," according to a statement.

"We are putting distribution arrangements in place in Asia and Europe, and are looking for the right partner in the U.S. Market," says Levy.

As the company expands, RoamAD "needs to have the right distribution partners," according to Levy.

Teaming up with RoamAD "enables us to provide cost-effective, scalable metropolitan Wi-Fi networks, campus hotzones and enterprise Wi-Fi networks to our customers in an efficient manner," said Phil Josephs, Business Development Manager at Siemens.

Siemens called the distribution agreement a "natural fit," due in part to rapid deployment.

RoamAD's "metropolitan Wi-Fi networks and campus hotzones can be deployed in weeks, rather than months," said Josephs.

Levy points to RoamAD's management software as integral to quickly designing metro networks. A metro hotzone network in Auckland was designed in eight days and deployed in four weeks. A campus hotzone at the Auckland University of Technology was designed in a day and deployed in under a week.

The New Zealand company is looking forward to using Siemens' "experience and skills in addressing the needs of network operators and enterprise customers, as well as its deployment and systems integration capabilities," says Craig Cameron, CEO of RoamAD.

The distribution arrangement follows strong growth of Wi-Fi hotzones internationally.

"There has been a market shift from hotspots to hotzones," says Levy. "The value proposition is improved in one large hotzone as compared with a hotspot," says the RoamAD spokesperson.

This is not the first time RoamAD and Siemens have worked together. The two previously installed 802.11a/b coverage in a New Zealand stadium.