Navini Networks

Navini Networks

Company type	Private
Industry	Telecommunications
Founded	January 2000 (2000-01)
Founder	Wu-Fu Chen, Guanghan Xu
Defunct	October 2007 (2007-10)
Fate	Acquired by Cisco Systems
Headquarters	Richardson, Texas , United States
Area served	Global (approximately 70 deployments)
Key people	Wu-Fu Chen, Guanghan Xu
Products	RipWave WiMAX wireless access system, RipWave EMS, base stations, customer premises equipment (CPE) modems
Number of employees	130 (2003)
Parent	Cisco Systems (from 2007)

Navini Networks was a telecommunications enterprise focused on delivering wireless Internet solutions based on WiMAX technology. Established in January 2000 by entrepreneurs Wu-Fu Chen and Guanghan Xu, the company operated out of Richardson, Texas and was supported through private funding sources.

Company

Navini Networks created a wireless Internet platform aimed at underserved regions where wired broadband options such as DSL or cable were limited. By early 2003, the company had attracted $66.5 million in investment capital and employed approximately 130 personnel. It gained notable accolades including KPMG's 'Start-Up of the Year' award in 2001, along with additional honors at both national and regional levels.

In October 2007, Navini was purchased by Cisco Systems for $330 million. At that time, it provided services to 70 Internet service providers. This acquisition broadened Cisco’s wireless broadband infrastructure offerings and strengthened its position within the telecommunications sector.

Products

Navini’s flagship solution was the RipWave WiMAX wireless access system, which consisted of a central headend unit featuring specialized antennas and customer premises equipment (CPE) modems. The technology enabled non-line-of-sight wireless communication through spot-beaming—a method adapted from satellite communications—to address signal degradation issues common in traditional Wi-Fi setups.

The platform incorporated a management system alongside one or several base stations and user modems, allowing ISPs to deliver dependable wireless Internet services in difficult coverage areas. This innovative approach targeted markets lacking comprehensive wired broadband networks, fueling business expansion and influence within the wireless access domain.

Ripwave EMS

At the heart of Navini’s Internet access solution lies the EMS (Element Management System), a network management application responsible for overseeing both base stations and end-user devices. Developed in Java, the Navini EMS runs on Windows or SUN server environments using SNMP protocols to facilitate effective management of multiple base stations.

Base System

Serving as the head-end hardware connecting users within its coverage area, the base system operates similarly to a GSM base station in cellular networks. It comprises an indoor unit paired with an outdoor antenna array consisting of eight elements. Each base station can support up to 1,000 users, with connections dynamically switching between base stations depending on signal quality; however, seamless handoff is not supported. The RipWave technology is based on TD-SCDMA standards, with Dr. Xu, one of Navini’s founders, contributing to their initial development.

RipWave introduced spot-beaming technology to establish non-line-of-sight links between customer premises equipment (CPE) and base stations by focusing signals on specific locations—a technique derived from satellite communication practices.

Initially marketed under the name RipWave MX8 system, these base stations were renamed Cisco BWX 8300 series following the acquisition until their discontinuation in 2008. The proprietary MX8 protocol was eventually replaced by Cisco’s WiMAX-certified BWX2300 series.

Customer Premises Equipment

Connecting to Navini WiMAX base stations necessitates the use of dedicated radio transceivers known as customer premises equipment (CPE). Since September 2007, Navini’s CPE modems have adhered to the IEEE 802.16 standard, succeeding the earlier BWX100 series, which was discontinued in 2009.

Each CPE unit integrates a modem (radio transceiver) with an internal active antenna; users may also attach external antennas to enhance signal reception. Although Ripwave technology does not support active handoff between base stations, it allows for nomadic operation—enabling CPE devices to link with any authorized base station within or across different ISP networks, thus offering users considerable flexibility.

High costs

Globally, Navini’s wireless broadband technology was deployed in approximately 70 instances. One of the initial European implementations involved the Dutch ISP Introweb, which aimed to deliver wireless broadband services in rural regions of the Netherlands where the incumbent telecommunications provider KPN initially declined to deploy DSL. Additionally, cable companies such as UPC and Ziggo had suspended upgrades to their Docsis infrastructure following the 2001 dot-com crash. Introweb intended to utilize Navini’s solutions extensively to provide continuous broadband connectivity.

Nevertheless, during Introweb’s network rollout, KPN altered its strategy and proceeded with a nationwide DSL upgrade, including the rural areas that Introweb targeted. Meanwhile, cable operators resumed their efforts to expand Docsis coverage. The cost of Navini-based connections remained substantially higher than DSL or Docsis alternatives, making it difficult for Introweb to compete on pricing or performance. Consequently, Introweb was forced into bankruptcy.