Telecom Ottawa is trialing gear from BelAir Networks: BelAir's antennas beam out in a 65-degree wedge which allows them to travel further with the same signal gain--as far as one kilometer, the company says. BelAir also supports mesh networking.
Telecom Ottawa has set up a hotspot covering city hall and another at a sports arena. Ultimately the company wants to cover the whole city. Spotnik is also using BelAir's gear to provide access in a Radisson hotel in Ottawa.
In other BelAir news, Phil Belanger, formerly of Vivato, is now serving as vice president of marketing for BelAir. Seems fitting as Vivato also markets an access point that can be placed outside of a building to provide coverage over the entire building.
Belanger is among a set of early (but not founding) Vivato employees that joined the company during the ascent to the top of its ride who have now left the firm. Most of the founders had already left or reportedly been forced out.
(Photo of the Belair installation in Ottawa is courtesy of Terrance Sullivan.)