Based: Sunnyvale, CA
Founded: 2004
www.ruckuswireless.com
Why it's fierce: Ruckus Wireless makes installation easy--that's the part the end users see, after all. A self-install kit for my TV services? No waiting from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. for the cable guy? That's revolutionary enough. The Ruckus system automatically steers IP traffic around obstacles in real-time to ensure 15-20 Mbps of consistent bandwidth to every location in the home, with little interruption. Ruckus' smart MIMO technology is specifically tailored for IP video, and the company has even demonstrated HD IPTV over its system. Ruckus also just announced deals with Telefonica in the Czech Republic and Belgacom, both of which have more than 100,000 IPTV subscribers.
What to look for: Ruckus Wireless is set to announce a few more sizeable carrier wins and I predict by this time next year they'll crack into one of the big U.S. telcos. More interestingly, we may also see a deal between them and a certain, stealthy consumer electronics company. One thing is for certain though: the future of TV is wireless, and Ruckus Wireless has already positioned itself as the market leader in the space.