Journal:

Siklu and Santa Cruz Announce Gigabit Project Using Fiber-Like Wireless

On Tuesday, April 5, Siklu Inc., Cruzio and the City of Santa Cruz announced a project to bring gigabit internet speeds to local residential, business and community sites throughout Santa Cruz. Using hybrid fiber-wireless technologies – existing fiber connected to Siklu fiber-like wireless radios with service provided by Cruzio — this project will bring wireless gigabit service to Santa Cruz residents in just under 3 months. 

In a first-of-its kind deployment in the United States, this project will show how ultra-high frequency wireless technology can extend the reach of existing fiber to bring gigabit services to a community quickly and inexpensively, to the great benefit of city services, local businesses and residents. Santa Cruz is a member of Next Century Cities, which has been advocating for such partnerships to boost broadband in cities throughout the country.

“We are thrilled at the prospect of upgrading the wireless service at key locations throughout the city, including Louden Nelson Community Center, the Civic Auditorium, the Tannery Arts Lofts affordable housing, City Hall, and other sites. Achieving these upgrades in partnership with Siklu and Cruzio, is a tremendous benefit to our entire community, for which we are very grateful.” — Mayor Cynthia Mathews

The project will use Siklu millimeter wave radios attached to existing fiber from Cruzio. These radios can be attached to building facades, the top of buildings, poles and other points in the community to create an ultra-fast wireless extension of fiber. Using mmWave frequencies, the radios can transmit multiple gigabits reliably and with low latency, and no interference or congestion. But the radios can be installed and deployed much quicker and with less disruption than traditional fiber. So residents, businesses and community sites will have the benefits of fiber much quicker than a traditional gigabit deployment that uses all fiber.

“Siklu is proud to work with Santa Cruz and Cruzio to show how we can light up communities with ultra-fast broadband speeds with a wireless technology that can be put in place quickly,” said Izik Kirshenbaum, Founder and Chairman of Siklu, “We look forward to deploying this technology in other U.S. communities in the months to come, helping them complete their race to get a gigabit.”

“This is the next step in our ongoing partnerships with the City of Santa Cruz and continuing our long partnership with Siklu to provide affordable, ultra-fast broadband to our community. We look forward to bringing this ‘game changing’ technology to as many of the homes and businesses in Santa Cruz as possible.”​ — Peggy Dolgenos, President and co-CEO of Cruzio

In Depth: Kendra Baker and Zach Davis

Location, Location, Location (With Killer Data, Data, Data)