NEC Corporation, a provider of wireless solutions, announced the global release of its new iPASOLINK VR4 and IAP3 ODU variants supporting Channel Aggregation (CA) for telecom operators looking to cost effectively expand network capacity.

NEC’s iPASOLINK VR4 microwave radio products with MC-AVC support Channel Aggregation and allows operators to double the link capacity by simultaneously transmitting two radio channels via a single IAP3 ODU, without the need to add additional hardware.

Operators deploy NEC’s iPASOLINK IAP3 ODUs for reliable radio links operating across the widest range of environmental conditions. The IAP3 ODU delivers high-power at high modulation, ensuring the best system gain for higher capacity links and a minimal lightweight body for easy mounting. The IAP3 ODU now also supports Channel Aggregation while IAP3 frequency bands are being rolled out sequentially, NEC said.

The Channel Aggregation feature is licensed and enabled in software on the iPASOLINK VR4 with the new MC-AVC main card. A single IF cable connected between the iPASOLINK VR4 modem port and the IAP3 ODU enables operators to double the link capacity by adding a second radio channel.

Operators gain increased capacity with less hardware and significantly reduce operating costs when compared to traditional 2+0 systems.

NEC will also add support for Channel Aggregation to the optional MODEM card, thereby extending Channel Aggregation support to the VR4 and VR10 plugin slots.

The iPASOLINK VR4 with MC-AVC also supports NEC’s Multi-Traffic Aggregation (MTA) and Radio Traffic Aggregation (RTA) features, as well as four 10Gbps SFP Ethernet interfaces, redundant power supplies and is interoperable with other iPASOLINK products.