June 16, 2008

NEC and GENBAND Partner on Femotcell

NEC Corporation and GENBAND announced that NEC will integrate GENBAND’s G9 Converged Media Gateway into its Femtocell Solution architecture for mobile operators.

A Femtocell is a compact, low-power plug-and-play consumer device that provides localized 3G coverage and capacity, while using the subscriber’s broadband connection for connectivity to the mobile service provider’s network. Femtocells allow service providers to improve 3G coverage into homes, office buildings, and other facilities in a cost effective manner which relieves network congestion, improves quality of service, ultimately increasing customer retention. Subscribers will benefit from an improved experience and access to new tariffs and services.

NEC provides a complete Femtocell solution which includes the Access Point for direct subscriber use, together with the supporting Femtocell Gateway to aggregate and connect potentially millions of Femtocell Access Points to the operator’s core network. GENBAND is providing its G9 Converged Media Gateway which uniquely offers both the media gateway (MGW) and signaling gateway (SGW) functionality. Currently on trial with several European operators as part of NEC’s Femtocell Solution, the G9 platform helps lower overall operating and capital costs through its Packet Access Gateway capabilities, while its transcoder-free operation enables Femtocells to provide higher quality voice.

Richard Hanscott, Vice President, Network Solutions Division, NEC Europe, commented: “Recognition of the strategic and operational benefits which femtocell technology can deliver to operators is rapidly gaining momentum within the industry. NEC is at the forefront of driving femtocell innovation, with customer trials underway globally, and fully expects to see subscriber services become available in 2008. Having delivered the world’s first 3G network, NEC already has an unmatched heritage of technical expertise in this area and, accordingly, only selects partners with proven and compelling products, which GENBAND has demonstrated.”

“The measurable impact home base station solutions can have on subscriber satisfaction, network efficiencies and bottom-line business performance is tremendous," said Charles Vogt, GENBAND's President and CEO. "NEC has a reputation as one of the leading 3G authorities and GENBAND will leverage this to help provide operators worldwide with the most reliable Femtocell solution. Together we have the potential to enhance the communications experience for end users around the globe."

GENBAND and NEC are both members of the Femto Forum, the independent industry association that supports femtocell deployment worldwide and encourages the growth of a partner ecosystem committed to innovation in standards-based network infrastructure and achieving high levels of collaboration and product interoperability.


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