Wireless MESH Certified

ABS Technology Architects has always been a leader in advanced technology solutions. As the company built our Cisco IP Voice business, many of our clients have developed wireless mobility, network security, Microsoft, and data storage needs. ABS has usually moved into new technology practices at the request of our clients, who recognized the value of ABS’ business and engineering expertise in their organizations.

By obtaining the Cisco Advanced MESH Specialization, ABS aimed to capitalize on the growing interest we are receiving in mesh networks from Virginia colleges, universities, and municipalities that want to install wireless networks. Unlike traditional Wi-Fi access points, each node in a mesh network does not require a direct connection to an Ethernet backbone. With just one node connected, the signal hops throughout the "mesh," which makes the network easier to deploy and simpler to manage in a variety of environments. The mesh is also more reliable -- if one node goes down, the other nodes will fill in the "dead" spot.

Since 2006, ABS has since sold, configured, and installed the two largest outdoor wireless MESH projects in Virginia. In September 2008, ABS completed installation on the largest Wireless LAN deployment in the history of the Commonwealth at Virginia Beach City Public Schools.  In May 2008, VBCPS conducted their SOL testing via this wireless network, which at its peak had 11,000 students connecting wirelessly to conduct all of their testing. The VBCPS network connects 85 buildings with over 4,000 Cisco Access Points.

In 2007, ABS installed the first MESH network in southern Virginia at Lynchburg College. The small, private college had run out of room on its campus and moved some of its administrative offices and management to downtown Lynchburg. Tying those offices into the campus network via T1 lines or a fiber build-out would have been prohibitively expensive, so the college opted for a more cost-effective mesh network that can expand as the college grows, and chose ABS to configure and deploy this solution.

With our advanced technology solutions vision, ABS Technology Architects has grown from eight employees with gross revenues of $800,000 to more than 55 employees with gross revenues of $23.5 million dollars last year. This vision has led ABS to achieve Cisco Systems Gold Direct Value Added Reseller (DVAR) status and the successful growth of offices across southern Virginia in Virginia Beach, Richmond and Roanoke, and beyond.