Harris Stratex now Aviat Networks

Harris Stratex Networks has changed its name to Aviat Networks, reflecting the need to drop the Harris name now that the company has divested its share in the wireless backhaul provider.

Aviat was created three years ago as the result of a merger between Harris and Stratex Networks. Harris subsequently divested its controlling stake in the company, said Saun McFall, vice president and CMO with Aviat. Along with the name change, the company's NASDAQ ticker symbol has changed to AVNW.

Aviat's primary business is wireless IP radios, but it also plays in the WiMAX base station space through its purchase of Telsima and last March won a deal with rural WiMAX operator Open Range to run its new wireless residential broadband network. Via Telsima, Aviat is working with WiMAX operators in India.

McFall said the company is focused on three areas: under developed regions, such as India and Africa, the data capacity explosion in the U.S. and Europe and contracts associated with broadband stimulus funding, although the awards for WiMAX networks are few and far between at this point. McFall added that stimulus funding for broadband networks aren't unique to the U.S., suggesting that the company is heavily targeting other areas.

About one-third of the company's business comes from the U.S. market, while the other two-thirds come from international markets. In the U.S., half of its business is mobile backhaul while the other half involves constructing private networks for state and local governments.

For more:
- check out the company's release [1]