Nortel and Alvarion to Collaborate on End-to-end WiMAX Solutions

(Top News, 12 Jun 2008)

Nortel and Alvarion Ltd have entered into a joint strategic WiMAX agreement to create an end-to-end WiMAX solution to meet the needs of the evolving wireless broadband market. The Nortel and Alvarion mobile WiMAX solution is expected to combine industry-leading technologies from both companies to allow operators worldwide to simply and efficiently deliver high-speed wireless broadband for a variety of applications, mobile or nomadic, including VoIP, streaming music, and HD video.

The joint solution features the integration of Alvarion's advanced radio access network technology with Nortel's core network solutions, backhaul solutions, applications such as Nortel's carrier VoIP solution, and Nortel Global Services for WiMAX. The Nortel and Alvarion WiMAX solution will allow operators to offer high speed wireless Internet access across large areas, including those currently underserved by broadband capabilities.

The joint WiMAX solution will also provide the speed and capacity to help operators meet the exploding demand for true mobile broadband. The platform offers WiMAX solutions for multiple frequency bands thus leveraging economies of scale from global deployments, expected to result in a lower cost of ownership for the customers.

The agreement also covers the resale by Nortel of the Alvarion platform of WiMAX access products in order to form the end-to-end solution for customers. Alvarion's development of its portfolio of leading-edge WiMAX base stations will be accelerated by Nortel's contribution of resources, expertise, and funding to enhance the development of the joint solution. Both companies will also work together to perform Interoperability Testing (IOT).

Alvarion will focus on device to network interoperability testing and Nortel will concentrate on the end-to-end network integration with the IP core, and applications. In order to incentivize the parties to engage in these activities, during the term of the agreement, Alvarion will be Nortel's exclusive supplier of WiMAX IEEE 802.16e 2X2/2X4 macro base stations and both parties have agreed to designate account leads in order to go to market in the most efficient and effective manner.

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