ADC is starting to offer in-building picocells as a result of its fall 2007 acquisition of LGC Wireless, and next year will move into the femtocell business, said Hilton Nicholson, vice president of network solutions.
“We provide coverage where there’s no coverage or poor coverage… we are focused on in-building and special venues,” using IP as a core technology, Nicholson said. The new picocell product is called InterReach Office and ships as a rack-mounted GSM base station.
Trials will begin in the U.K., where enterprises can buy such technology directly and manage their own wireless frequency. ADC hopes to start U.S. trials later this year, via carriers.
The software is sold on a per-user basis and derives from technology originally developed by Alvarion’s InterWave division, which was sold to LGC. Until 4G networks become mainstream, “In the United States, it’s going to be a hard sell but we’ll keep pushing it,” Nicholson said. “Femtocells are just going to happen, period. It’s an inexpensive way to maintain customers.”
Filed Under: Carriers
