Unification in models with replicated gauge groups

We examine unification of gauge couplings in four dimensional renormalizable gauge theories inspired by the latticized (deconstructed) SM or MSSM in five dimensions. The models are based on replicated gauge groups, spontaneously broken to the diagonal subgroup. The analysis is performed at one-loop level, with the contribution from the heavy vector bosons included, and compared with the analogous results in the SM or MSSM. Unification at or above the diagonal breaking scale is discussed. We find that in the considered class of extensions of the SM(MSSM) unification is possible for a wide range of unification scales and with the similar accuracy as in the SM(MSSM). Unification above the diagonal breaking scale is particularly attractive: it is a consequence of the SM(MSSM) unification, but with the unification scale depending on the number of replications of the gauge group.