Ruckus Wireless today introduced its new Wi-Fi based wireless broadband access (WBA) solution promising to provide service providers with a cost effective, build-as-you grow model based solution. 

Ruckus says that the new solution allows operators to deploy wireless coverage at lowest possible cost per bit and enabling operators to reach out to those areas with high-speed wireless data services where WiMAX could not be considered a viable option. 

Ruckus says the solution will provide a 5x reduction in capex for initial coverage and a 30x reduction in cost of incremental capacity.

“Delivering WiMAX performance and reliability at Wi-Fi prices with technology that’s ready today is something this market has been waiting for,” says Ken Biba, co-Founder and CTO of Novarum, a strategic consulting and analysis firm for the wireless broadband industry. “Introducing an end-to-end Wi-Fi solution that can deliver such capabilities will change the broadband wireless landscape”

The solution includes outdoor mesh APs, customer premises equipment (CPE), a new line of smart Wi-Fi backhaul systems and system-wide remote management.  It makes use of 802.11n technology.

“Service providers everywhere now view Wi-Fi as an essential service offering,” adds Selina Lo, president and CEO of Ruckus Wireless. “In emerging geographies where there remain huge opportunities for broadband access, rolling out fixed line or traditional wireless broadband technologies is often not possible or cost-prohibitive. We’ve delivered a one-of-a-kind solution to solve this problem that will fundamentally change the economics for delivering broadband data services in these markets.”

The solutions are available for commercial deployment and the ZoneFlex 7731 is priced at US $2,398 per pair.