Wavtrace

About Wavtrace

Wavtrace, Inc. operated as a developer of broadband wireless access systems tailored for telecommunication network operators. Founded in 1996 by Robert Lundy, Vern Fotheringham, and Robert Foster, the company was headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. Wavtrace specialized in creating point-to-multipoint systems designed to deliver high-speed internet, data, video, and voice services to business clients.

The firm's core technology centered on millimeter wave solutions and it was a pioneer in developing Time Division Duplexing (TDD) for point-to-multipoint systems in LMDS frequencies. This allowed for the dynamic allocation of upstream and downstream capacity based on real-time traffic demands. One of its key product features was a high-speed burst modem capable of delivering multimedia services at speeds up to 180 Mbps per user.

Wavtrace's business model involved manufacturing and selling these advanced wireless systems. The company's journey included several funding rounds, accumulating a total of $46 million. A significant milestone was a strategic alliance formed in June 1999 with Harris Corporation, which involved reselling agreements, technology collaboration, and an initial equity investment by Harris. This partnership culminated in the acquisition of Wavtrace by Harris Corporation on July 30, 2000, for $134 million. At the time of the acquisition, Wavtrace had approximately 110 employees, 80 of whom were engineers. Following the acquisition, the company was integrated into Harris' Microwave Communications Division, and its products became part of the Harris ClearBurst™ product line. Harris Corporation later merged with L3 Technologies to form L3Harris Technologies in 2019.