Qualcomm Invests in Picocell Developer

Femtocell and Picocell developer, ip.access has announced that Qualcomm has made a strategic investment in the company as part of Qualcomm’s European investment fund. Terms of the investment were not disclosed.

Qualcomm joins existing investors - Cisco, Intel Capital, ADC, Motorola Ventures, Scottish Equity Partners, Rothschild Gestion and Amadeus Capital Partners - to provide funding support for ip.access’ Oyster 3G femtocell system. The Oyster 3G uses a residential broadband connection to deliver a 3G signal in the home, and is currently being trialled by several networks operators worldwide.

ip.access is also behind the world’s most deployed picocell system, which is used in more than 35 mobile networks around the world.

“As one of the world’s leading wireless technology companies, Qualcomm brings expertise that complements our own unique understanding of cellular-over-IP,” said Stephen Mallinson, CEO of ip.access. “Their knowledge and industry experience will help us unleash the power of the mobile phone using indoor connectivity,” he said. “We aim to facilitate new and exciting mobile phone-based services that otherwise wouldn’t and couldn’t work indoors.”

“3G femtocells will have a very important role in future mobile network architecture,” said Frederic Rombaut, head of Qualcomm Ventures Europe, “ip.access has an innovative approach to the 3G femtocell market that will enable our customers to enhance the delivery of 3G services to mobile users.”


Source:cellular-news