Multi-gigabit communications start-up E-Band Communications Corp. (EBCC) has developed a prototype transceiver system that operates in the millimeter-wave region at 71 GHz-76 GHz and 81 GHz-86 GHz (the “E-band”). According to the developer, signals in this band suffer much less loss of signal strength as distance increases. Adverse weather effects such as fog, dust, snow or desert sun have little, if any affect, on this technology. This is especially important for defense and national security-related applications such as port security, where fog is a consistent presence and always an enemy of communications and security systems.

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The E-band transceiver is now positioned to be the core for a high-speed radio communications link serving as a low-cost alternative to fiber-optic cable installation for border and port security applications, as well as intelligence gathering, communications interoperability, and information sharing.

“This is the only wireless technology able to transmit 1 Gbps to 10 Gbps data rates at distances up to six miles. This technology opens up a number of new opportunities and enables applications previously possible only with fiber optic connections, which typically cost several times more and can take months if not years to implement. Using E-band wireless, we can set up ‘fiber-like’ network in a matter of days,” said EBCC’s Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer Saul Umbrasas, “and that makes our technology stand out from the crowd.”

Thanks to two grants awarded by Cal State San Bernardino’s Office of Technology Transfer and Commercialization (OTTC), E-Band has been able to demonstrate a working prototype. The first was for $75,000 for prototype development, testing and evaluation. Results provided proof of concept for the technology, and E-Band applied for follow-on funding to handle a couple additional improvements. OTTC then provided a $50,000 follow-on commercialization award that allowed E-Band to complete its prototype.

In April 2004, EBCC signed an exclusive field-of-use license agreement with Northrop Grumman Corp. for its E-band monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) technology. This highly integrated multifunction GaAs MMIC-based chipset is used by EBCC to develop a low-cost millimeter wave radio communications system.