DragonWave Inc. has announced a multi-year exclusive supply agreement with Unwired Australia to supply wireless backhaul for the forthcoming Vivid Wireless Perth network. Vivid Wireless is Australia’s first 4G mobile WiMAX network deployment. It will rely on DragonWave’s Horizon Compact packet microwave radio system for backhaul connectivity of up to 200 Mbps initially. Horizon products operate in both licensed and unlicensed radio frequencies between 6 and 38 GHz.

Unwired Australia will help build and operate the Vivid Wireless Perth network, scheduled to launch in March 2010, which will introduce wireless consumer Internet services peaking at more than 20 Mbps. The Horizon Compact system, an all-outdoor chassis that integrates traditional split indoor modem and outdoor radio functionality in a single unit, will backhaul the Vivid Wireless Perth network traffic between the network core and about 150 wireless base stations around the city.

“DragonWave’s reputation for proven WiMAX backhaul and expertise is well established globally,” said David Spence, CEO with Unwired Australia. “We put the Horizon Compact through a battery of field trials, and it consistently demonstrated reliable performance, advanced spectral efficiency and ease of use in degrees that differentiated the DragonWave solution from others that we evaluated. In addition, the Horizon Compact is a highly scalable platform in a small, all-outdoor form factor that will support our growth.”

“Vivid Wireless will be the fastest wireless broadband network in Australia to date, and it’s the first major carrier network win for DragonWave in this country,” said Peter Allen, president and CEO of DragonWave. “We’re extremely excited to be a partner in expanding unprecedented services to their consumer and business markets across Australia. This is an important partnership and we look forward to building upon this win across the region.”