DALLAS, June 16 -- Allied Riser Communications Corp. (ARC) said that it would begin trials of a wireless optical network developed by AirFiber Inc. aimed at eliminating local-access barriers to high-bandwidth connectivity. AirFiber's OptiMesh network equipment can provide bandwidth communications at 622 Mb/s, the company said. Such high-bandwidth communications would allow ARC to provide faster and cheaper access to its customers. We expect free space optics, as demonstrated with our AirFiber trials, will be a significant component of our 'circuit breaker' strategy, said David Crawford, CEO of ARC. That strategy will include acquisition and lighting of fiber outside the building, the use of unlicensed wireless spectrum, as well as free space optics. We are working with many of the leading equipment suppliers and service providers in each of these arenas as we continue to evaluate best of class vendors and partners. The OptiMesh network's wireless optical networking technology uses beams of light to deliver bandwidth access for voice, data and multimedia services over the air.