NSN, Airvana to Cooperate on 3G Femtocell

Airvana Inc. will work with Nokia Siemens Networks to provide an end-to-end femtocell solution for 3G operators that wish to extend their coverage indoors.

The small cellular access points use a broadband Internet connection to provide consumers with enhanced mobile voice, video and data services, especially in the home. For this effort, Airvana’s UMTS Home Base Station femtocell is being certified to interoperate with Nokia Siemens Networks’ recently launched Femto Gateway, which uses open interfaces. As a first milestone, the companies have successfully completed simultaneous end-to-end calls.

The two companies will cooperate in the marketing and sales of the joint solution to mobile operators worldwide, but each company will independently supply its respective products to the operator. Initial trials of the joint solution are expected by the end of 2007, with deployments starting in 2008.

“We believe that femtocells will transform the experience of using mobile devices indoors,” said Randy Battat, president and CEO of Airvana. “Nokia Siemens Networks has a great strategy to connect femtocells to the core network by driving an open ecosystem, and Airvana’s product is a natural fit to their strategy.”

ABI Research forecasts the market for femto cell equipment will grow 95 percent per year, to more than $4 billion by 2012. Some say femto technology will compete with WLAN, dual-mode and VoWiFi strategies.

Nokia Siemens Networks www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com
Airvana Inc. www.airvana.com

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