Alcatel Gets Adaptive

Alcatel and AirNet Communications Corporation have signed an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) agreement whereby Alcatel will be able to purchase GSM Base Station Subsystem (BSS) radio products from AirNet for resale to Alcatel's customers. Alcatel already received purchase orders following this agreement from Oklahoma-based MBO Wireless, for GSM wireless network infrastructure equipment, software and related services to be deployed in North America over the next four quarters.

AirNet's GSM base station product line, which serves all GSM frequency ranges with both voice and data technology, complements Alcatel's Evolium product capabilities for 2.5G network solutions for the North American mobile market.

The five year agreement permits Alcatel to sell AirNet's products including the AdaptaCell base station, the SuperCapacity base station incorporating adaptive array technology. AirNet's adaptive array technology allows the use of the same frequency in two adjacent cells which significantly improves the frequency usage, thus reducing the amount of spectrum and cell sites required. The agreement also includes the AirSite Backhaul Free base station enabling the use of GSM frequencies to link several Base Stations together.

"Alcatel continues to break new ground by offering operators our integrated SuperCapacity adaptive array solution," said Glenn Ehley, President & Chief Executive Officer for AirNet Communications. "This cooperation will leverage Alcatel's sales in North America in both new and established accounts. Thanks to Alcatel, we anticipate unprecedented market access and acceptance of AirNet products. This OEM Agreement is a strong endorsement of our technology vision for GSM voice and high speed data wireless infrastructure."

Posted to the site on 23rd March 2004