ip.access also launches new Viper™ small cell platform, and announces partnership with CCS to simplify small cell deployment
ip.access, the world’s leading independent small cell product and solution provider, announced today it is extending its collaboration with Intel to encompass a new generation of small cell products. In additional news it announces the launch of a new end-to-end small cell platform, Viper, and a partnership with CCS to simplify small cell deployment.
The Intel® Transcede™ T3K and T2K system-on-a-chip (SoC) product family for enterprise, residential and rural market access points is a key component in ip.access’ Viper™ end-to-end small cell platform. Viper extends ip.access’ market reach beyond its traditional mobile operator customer base to exploit valuable new small cell opportunities with enterprise users worldwide.
“We see the continued growth of demand for mobile communications around the globe and know that next generation small cells are the only way to meet it. Selecting a technology partner with the flexibility and power to support our goals is vital. Intel was the natural choice for us as its solutions extend our LTE and multi-standard roadmaps in a way that no-one else can match,” says Malcolm Gordon, CEO of ip.access.
“We’ve partnered with ip.access over many years, most notably on the high volume AT&T Microcell. They have a unique vision of the way the HetNet wireless access market will develop. By deepening our collaboration today, we can help ip.access leverage Intel’s SoC platforms to meet the world’s need for wireless communication for licensed, unlicensed and Fifth Generation mobile networks,” said Naser Adas, general manager of the Heterogeneous Network Solutions Group at Intel.
ip.access’ W-CDMA residential small cell deployment remains the largest of its type in the world. No other small infrastructure vendor maintains the same breadth and depth of market penetration through GSM, W-CDMA and LTE around the globe. The inclusion of the Intel Transcede small cell SoC technology enhances ip.access’ product offerings, extending the reach of LTE beyond its heartland of licensed radio macro network deployments. By including self-organisation features, including FCC 47 part 96 compliance, ip.access products based on Intel technology will accelerate the transition towards LTE in mass market wireless access, including LTE-LAA, Citizens Broadband and Licensed Shared Access.
The Viper small cell platform encompasses lowest-cost products for home, small business and rural deployment as well as high performance products for enterprise and campus. All products carry ip.access proven Self-Organisation features, with SUMO™ enhanced multi-operator capability for vertical markets. Viper also integrates ip.access’ core-network gateways and EMS solutions into a complete end-to-end platform, suitable for traditional planned deployment, end-user unplanned deployments, and deployment ‘as-a-service’ by ip.access and its service partners.
In further news published recently ip.access also announced that it has partnered with CCS (Cambridge Communication Systems) to develop a new outdoor LTE small cell with integrated wireless backhaul, which will be unveiled at Mobile World Congress on stands 7C60 and 7B67.
With mobile data traffic continuing to soar, mobile operators are struggling to keep up with coverage and capacity demands, and small cells are accepted as the only viable solution to keep customers connected. However, site acquisition and planning approvals are two of the biggest barriers facing deployments of outdoor urban small cells today.
Although separate 4G small cell and wireless backhaul products can be installed in the same location, a “two-box” solution often exceeds the size, weight and single-attachment restrictions required to gain planning approval.
To overcome this issue, ip.access and CCS have developed an integrated outdoor unit incorporating a 4G nanoLTE™ small cell from ip.access, and Metnet self-organizing microwave backhaul from CCS. The new unit requires only a power supply to boost outdoor coverage and capacity in metro areas. It is designed to be more acceptable to local planning departments, and is smaller, cheaper, and easier to deploy than a two-box solution.
About Viper™
Viper™ is a Virtualised, In-Premises Enterprise Radio Access Network (RAN) platform which integrates ip.access’ award-winning 3G and 4G Access Points, virtualised Access Control Gateways, and Small Cells as a Service (ScaaS) offerings into an end-to-end solution to address enterprise customer needs. Security, automated provisioning and network configuration are an integral part of the Viper platform, with access points requiring only Ethernet and mains power connections. This platform allows in-building cellular infrastructure to be deployed as easily as Wi-Fi. The Viper platform is available now from ip.access and through selected service partners worldwide.
