Company also launches Ultra-High Density Technology Suite
that enhances network performance and WPA3 security compliance to protect end-users
from common attacks
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - July 18, 2018 - Ruckus Networks,
an ARRIS company, today announced the Ruckus
R730, the industry's first IoT- and LTE-ready, 802.11ax wireless access point
(AP). The high-capacity, 12 spatial-stream R730 works in concert with the new Ruckus
Ultra-High Density Technology Suite to smoothly deliver high-resolution, latency-sensitive
video in ultra-high density user environments such as stadiums, train stations
and schools. In addition, the R730 complies with both the new WPA3™ security
protocol and Wi-Fi™ Enhanced Open for more secure connections on public
networks.
Worldwide data and video traffic is growing at double-digit rates, driven
by an increase in connected devices. ABI Research predicts that Wi-Fi device
shipments will grow to nearly 35 billion by 2022. Data and video traffic also will
surge due to increased per-device data consumption driven by applications like
4K video streaming, virtual and augmented reality and live-stream gaming.
"Ruckus
customers and partners demand more when it comes to their networks," said Ian
Whiting, president of Ruckus Networks. "We have a long history of delivering
products and technologies that go beyond the current state of the art to meet
the world's most demanding network requirements while driving down the
cost-per-connection. Ruckus R730 and Ruckus Ultra-High Density Technology Suite
are the latest examples."
The congestion of people, devices and bandwidth-hungry apps makes for
challenges that current wireless tech cannot handle. Adding to the complexity
of this environment are diversifying device categories and apps, such as
instant messaging, IoT control messages and voice-over-Wi-Fi.
"Real-world
use cases are bumping up against the limits of existing Wi-Fi standards, and
the need for 802.11ax to address a wide variety of heterogeneous, high-density
scenarios is clear," said Chris DePuy, founder and technology analyst at 650
Group. "Ruckus has already differentiated itself in the realm of network
consolidation. With this launch, Ruckus is reinforcing that by setting the
stage for converged Wi-Fi, IoT and LTE deployments."
802.11ax:
More connections and bandwidth, higher QoS
The new 802.11ax standard was designed for
high-density connectivity, with the ability to support up to a four-fold capacity
increase over its 802.11ac Wave 2 predecessor. With 802.11ax, multiple APs used
in dense device environments are collectively able to deliver required
quality-of-service (QoS) to more clients with more diverse usage profiles due
to the use of orthogonal
frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) and multi-user
multiple-in multiple-out (MU-MIMO) technologies.
Delivering
expected service levels in ultra-high-density environments
Increased end-user expectations and
application QoS requirements pose unique difficulties to network designers. Locations
such as stadiums, public venues, train stations, and schools in which video
content and applications are central to the curriculum, are representative
examples. The R730, supporting eight spatial streams on 5 GHz and four spatial
streams on 2.4 GHz, is better able to address those expectations through
increased capacity, improved coverage and performance.
"Train stations are especially challenging
Wi-Fi environments due to spikes in client count each time passengers exit a
train," said Tetsuo Mukai, general manager, KDDI. "We challenged
Ruckus to help us improve the in-station experience for subscribers with
devices that were already on the network when the train arrives, and Ruckus
came back with a solution that dramatically reduced the impact of these
transient client events on affected subscribers, minimizing throughput
degradation and shortening recovery time."
The Ruckus Ultra-High Density Technology Suite
addresses these challenges using techniques that go beyond the 802.11ax
standard, including:
- Airtime decongestion--Increases
average client throughput in heavily congested environments by using
patent-pending techniques to reduce unnecessary management traffic.
- Transient client
management--Maintains throughput levels for priority clients in high
transient-client environments such as rail stations by using patent-pending
techniques to delay AP association with low-priority transient clients.
- BeamFlex™+ antennas--Patented
technology improves AP coverage and capacity by continuously optimizing antenna
patterns on a per-device, per-packet basis.
"At Golden 1 Center, we're
committed to delivering the best fan experience in the industry. One of the
ways we deliver value to our fans is to build a network that enables live
streaming during the games. This is incredibly challenging to do in a venue
like ours with as many live-streaming fans as we have," said Ryan Montoya,
chief technology officer, Sacramento Kings. "Ruckus was up to the challenge and
demonstrated to us several innovative features that let us squeeze the most out
of our available spectrum, ensuring no connections are dropped and that
adequate bandwidth is available for anyone that wants to live-stream the game."
Converging
IoT access networks
The R730 includes embedded Bluetooth Low
Energy (BLE) and Zigbee radios and can be augmented with Ruckus IoT modules to support
additional physical layer protocols such as LoRa. Using the Ruckus IoT
controller, these separate networks and the IoT endpoints associated with them,
can be managed, coordinated and connected to IoT cloud services as part a
single, converged IoT access network.
Preparing
for private LTE
The R730 accommodates modular Ruckus
OpenG™ LTE APs operating in the U.S. Citizens Broadband
Radio Service (CBRS) 3.5 GHz band, enabling existing Wi-Fi APs to provide LTE
service. Using modular or stand-alone LTE APs, organizations will be able to
build their own private LTE networks to improve the quality of indoor cellular
service within their facilities.
Making
users safer at home, in the office and in public
The R730 will implement the next-generation WPA3
wireless security protocol and Wi-Fi Enhanced Open. Users with compatible
devices will benefit from significant security enhancements, including:
- Protection against brute-force
dictionary attacks through use of a new key exchange protocol known as a simultaneous authentication of equals
handshake.
- Protection against traffic-sniffing
attacks common to unauthenticated networks associated with public venues.
Getting
the most out of your 802.11ax deployment
The 802.11ax standard and the R730 offer a
step-function increase in over-the-air throughput. To make the best use of that
new capacity, network designers need to optimize the wired access
infrastructure to support it, while minimizing upgrade costs. Ruckus helps
network designers by:
- Offering two switches--the
entry-level ICX 7150 Z-series and the ICX 7650--that meet the increased
power-over-Ethernet (PoE) requirements of the R730.
- Providing the access port capacity
needed to support multi-gigabit throughput on the ICX 7650 Z-series--with up to 24
auto-sensing 1/2.5/5/10 gigabit Ethernet (GbE) ports--and the 100
gigabit-per-second (Gbps) uplink capacity required for ultra-high-density
deployments.
- Enabling them to replace APs
without extensive network redesign by using the adaptive Wi-Fi cell sizing
feature included in the Ultra-High-Density Technology Suite.
"Many of our
customers have future-proofed their networks with the Ruckus ICX 7650 switches,
in anticipation of the upcoming 802.11ax access points," said Don Gulling,
president and CEO of Verteks Consulting. "The launch of the R730 enables us to
quickly get these APs into the hands of our customers that serve high-density
Wi-Fi deployments such as stadiums, auditoriums and large public venues. These
APs and switches will provide our customers with what they need to meet
next-generation demands."
Availability
The R730 will be generally available this calendar quarter. The Ultra-High Density Technology Suite is
available now for use with all Ruckus APs.
About
Ruckus Networks
Ruckus Networks, an ARRIS
company, is redefining connectivity around the globe. With our partners,
we build secure wired and wireless access networks for organizations that place
a premium on connectivity experiences for end users as well as networking simplicity
for IT.
About
ARRIS
ARRIS International plc (NASDAQ: ARRS) is
powering a smart, connected world. The company's leading hardware, software and
services transform the way that people and businesses stay informed,
entertained and connected. For more information, visit www.arris.com.
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