New wireless DOCSIS tech could give cable a helping hand

With the “fiber wars” underway, cable’s got some catching up to do to ensure it’s not left in the dust with network deployments. Air Wireless, a newly formed company made up of former Comcast, Liberty Global and Vodafone execs, claims it has the solution with its proprietary wireless DOCSIS platform. The technology is “more or less” like fixed wireless access, said Air Wireless CRO Alex Salamon, as it uses radio frequencies to send internet signals. Essentially, it’s an extension of DOCSIS 3.1 that “happens to be over wireless.” Air Wireless can support the 10 GHz band with a distance of up to 22 miles as well as the E-band, which has a higher range of 71 GHz – 81 GHz but goes only up to 8 miles.