This article contains content that is written like an advertisement .(February 2022) |
Company type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Founded | 1 January 2000 |
Headquarters | Cambourne, Cambridge, United Kingdom |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | |
Parent | Mavenir (since 2020) |
Website | ipaccess |
ip.access Limited is a multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and markets small cells (picocell and femtocell) technologies and infrastructure equipment for GSM, GPRS, EDGE, 3G, 4G and 5G. The company was acquired by Mavenir in September 2020.
The company’s headquarters is based in Cambourne, England. The company also maintains offices in Gurgaon and Pune, India.
ip.access combines IP and cellular technologies to provide 2G, 3G and LTE coverage and for mobile networks. Using satellite backhaul, its products provide coverage to commercial passenger aircraft, [1] ships, [2] and users in remote rural areas.
The firm is a member of 3GPP, [3] CBRS Alliance, European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), [4] Having previously been an individual member of the Telecom Infra Project, following its acquisition, ip.access continues to be involved through Mavenir's membership. [5]
ip.access was founded in December 1999 [6] as a wholly owned subsidiary of TTP Group PLC [7] aimed at developing technologies that would allow multiple radio access technologies to communicate over the Internet. To accommodate its growing staff, in 2006 ip.access relocated to new offices in Cambourne Business Park, Cambridge, where it remains. [8]
In October 2000, TTP Group spun off its communications division (TTP Communications, or TTPCom) in an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange, and ip.access joined the spin-off as a wholly owned subsidiary of the TTPCom group.
In March 2006, the company secured an £8.5 million round of funding from Intel Capital, Scottish Equity Partners, and Rothschild & Cie Banque. [9] As part of its June 2006 acquisition of TTP Communications, Motorola also gained a stake in ip.access. [10] In 2007, after signing an OEM agreement with ip.access, ADC [11] (now part of Tyco Electronics) made a minority interest investment in the company. Followed by, both Cisco Systems [12] and Qualcomm [13] making strategic financial investments in the company in 2008.
In July 2007, the firm became a founding member of the Femto Forum, renamed Small Cell Forum in February 2012. [14] [15] ip.access was named in The Sunday Times Fast Tech Track 100 in both 2007 [16] and 2008. [17] The company was cited as the number one picocell vendor by ABI Research in 2008. [18]
In 2009, ip.access was named in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA. [19] In April 2009, the company announced its Oyster 3G product would support femtocell standards published by 3GPP and the Broadband Forum. [20] In March 2010, the company took part in the first Plugfest, [21] organized by ETSI as part of its Plugtests [22] program, held to demonstrate the effectiveness of the 3GPP femtocell standards in supporting interoperability between femtocell access points and network equipment from different vendors.
In June 2011, the market research and analysis firm Infonetics [23] named ip.access along with its partner Cisco Systems, as the leading supplier of 3G femtocells. [24] In August 2011, ip.access [25] announced it had made more than 500,000 installations of its 3G technologies. [26] In February 2013, ip.access announced it had become the first 3G small cell provider to ship one million residential units. [27] In the same month, ip.access and iDirect completed successful interoperability testing of 3G small cells over IP Satellite. [28]
In February 2014, ip.access launched a new range of small cells called presenceCell, [29] which unlike traditional small cells, do not rely on providing indoor coverage and capacity to deliver a return on investment. Rather, the ultra-compact base stations are designed to capture anonymous user location and phone identity information from smartphones, which can be analysed and packaged as a service for a variety of businesses.
Private equity fund Zouk Capital invested in ip.access in July 2015 [30] alongside Amadeus Capital Partners.
In August 2015, ip.access was named as a partner in the European Commission-funded €8 million Horizon 2020 Project SESAME. [31] Led by Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) the project's remit was to develop virtualised cloud-enabled, multi-operator, 5G radio access infrastructure and services. In February, 2016. ip.access launched its Viper platform to provide end-to-end connectivity and management for small cells. [32]
nanoVirt, a virtualised small cell gateway which integrates 2G, 3G and 4G small cell management and access control functions and can run on a carrier-grade Virtual Machine (VM) environment or hosted in a third-party data centre was announced in May 2016. [33] Ip.access has deployed more than 2 million small cells globally which are used by mobile operators to densify their networks to improve network coverage and/or capacity. [34] Small cells are also the foundation for private network use cases based on spectrum sharing such as CBRS in the United States.
AeroMobile and SITAONAIR use ip.access small cells combined with satellite backhaul to provide cellular coverage on commercial and private aircraft. [35] The company also supplies maritime solutions on freight vessels and cruise liners working with partners such as Pentonet, SpeedCast and Telecom26. Ip.access has also provided small cells connected over satellite as rapid deployment disaster response systems. Ip.access small cell solution have also been deployed in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to provide connectivity to rural and remote communities and reduce the digital divide.
On September 27, 2020 ip.access was acquired by Mavenir, the supplier of cloud-native network software to communication service providers. The acquisition allowed the integration of ip.access’ 2G and 3G technologies into Mavenir's existing 4G and 5G OpenRAN portfolio broadband suite and also extend its reach into the enterprise market for private wireless networks based on 3GPP technologies such as 4G/LTE and 5G.
The sale of ip.access Ltd to Mavenir was led by the ip.access management team; Richard Staveley (CEO), Nick Johnson (CTO & Founder), Neil Winrow (COO) and Laura Lawrence (CFO).
The two companies had worked together to deliver Vodafone UK's first Open RAN site at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells in August 2020.
In November 2020, Mavenir announced the establishment of an OpenRAN Centre of Innovation to be centred at the ip.access headquarters in Cambridge, UK.
The telecommunications firms AT&T [36] uses Oyster 3G as the core femtocell technology for its 3G MicroCell [37] product. Cisco Systems, [38] has jointly developed a femtocell solution with ip.access in compliance with the Broadband Forum's TR-069 [20] technical specification.
In 2002, ip.access introduced the world's first IP basestation controller for indoor GSM networks. [39] nanoGSM uses 2G picocells that leverage the standard GSM air interface, full IP-based BSC, and an OMC-R management system that delivers voice, messaging and data to both 2G and 3G handsets at an indoor range of up to 200m.
nano3G is an end-to-end femtocell system with access points for Enterprise, E-class [E8, E16 and E24] and Small Medium Business, S-class [S8], access controller and element management system, providing carrier-class coverage to commercial [40] and consumer users. [41]
Launched at the 2007 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, [42] the Oyster 3G is ip.access' core 3G femtocell technology used by system integrators and OEM customers to integrate WCDMA femtocells into home gateways, set-top boxes, and other devices. ip.access' Oyster 3G is the core technology of AT&T's 3G MicroCell [43]
nanoLTE [E-40, E-60, E-100] is an Enterprise grade platform that brings LTE capacity both in-doors and in public spaces, while also offering the option of providing extra 3G infill and Circuit Switch Fall Back (CSFB) capacity.
Launched in 2014, the presenceCell is a new range of small cell, designed to capture precise user location data via their smart phone, which can be analysed and packaged as a service for a variety of businesses. In addition to the presenceCell, ip.access also provides the back-end processing and management system that delivers the Presence data anonymously and securely to vertical application providers. The company's Network Orchestration System serves as the infrastructure management solution and also supports the GSMA's OneAPI standard, which allows third parties to provide value-added services through web friendly message interfaces. The presenceCell was commercially deployed by Vodafone Turkey in 2015. [44] In January 2017, ip.access entered into a strategic partnership with wireless network analytics company Inovva to enhance the Presence offering.
Viper is a virtualised, in-premises enterprise 3G/4G radio access network platform launched in February 2016 that can be deployed by mobile operators or enterprises to offer indoor coverage through a “small cells as a service” (ScaaS) business model. [45] In May 2017, ip.access announced the updating of the Viper2020 Cloud Managed Small Cell platform to support 5G, first responders and neutral host networks with Presence.
The S-60, announced in February 2016, is ip.access’ first freestanding low-cost 4G/LTE access point designed for small offices and retailers.
Also launched in February 2016, the 4G Access Control Gateway provides mobile operators with a single interface between their existing core network and LTE small cells.
nanoVirt, launched in May 2016, is a software solution that integrates 2G, 3G and 4G small cell management and access control functions as virtualized components that can be deployed by mobile operators and neutral hosts on their preferred Virtual Machine server hardware or third-party data centre.
Announced in February 2019, the E62 is a multi-Radio Access Technology 3G/4G platform that is software-upgradable to 5G.
nanoCBRS is an OnGo certified solution for the deployment of private LTE networks in the 3.5 GHz band. Launched in October 2019, the solution incorporates Citizens Band Radio Devices, a suite of architectures – nanoViNE - to support use cases and nanoCBRSLab, a mobile network lab solution for testing.
Among ip.access' major customers are AT&T, [36] Batelco, Bharti Airtel, [46] Blue Ocean Wireless, [2] Bouygues Telecom, [47] Caribsat, Digicel, Globe, Jersey Telecom [48] Monaco Telecom, [49] O2 (UK), SFR, [50] SPIE SA, [50] T-Mobile, [51] Tele2, [52] Telefónica O2 Czech Republic, [53] Telenet, Telia Sonera, [54] T-Mobile, Vivacom [55] and Vodafone. [56]
The company's technology partners [57] include AeroMobile, [58] Africa Mobile Networks, Altobridge, [59] Blue Ocean Wireless, [60] Cisco Systems, [38] Druid Software, Intel, Pentonet, Private Mobile Networks, [61] Qualcomm, [62] Quortus, [63] Setcom, [63] and TriaGnoSys. [64]
Corporate, product, and personnel awards won by ip.access include the following:
The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is a standard developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to describe the protocols for second-generation (2G) digital cellular networks used by mobile devices such as mobile phones and tablets. GSM is also a trade mark owned by the GSM Association. GSM may also refer to the Full Rate voice codec.
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), also called 2.5G, is a mobile data standard on the 2G cellular communication network's global system for mobile communications (GSM). Networks and mobile devices with GPRS started to roll out around the year 2001. At the time of introduction it offered for the first time seamless mobile data transmission using packet data for an "always-on" connection, providing improved Internet access for web, email, WAP services, and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS).
3G is the third generation of wireless mobile telecommunications technology. It is the upgrade to 2G, 2.5G, GPRS and 2.75G Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution networks, offering faster data transfer, and better voice quality. This network was superseded by 4G, and later by 5G. This network is based on a set of standards used for mobile devices and mobile telecommunications services and networks that comply with the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) specifications set by the International Telecommunication Union. 3G is used in wireless voice telephony, mobile Internet access, fixed wireless Internet access, video calls and mobile TV.
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) is a family of wireless broadband communication standards based on the IEEE 802.16 set of standards, which provide physical layer (PHY) and media access control (MAC) options.
4G is the fourth generation of broadband cellular network technology, succeeding 3G and preceding 5G. A 4G system must provide capabilities defined by ITU in IMT Advanced. Potential and current applications include amended mobile web access, IP telephony, gaming services, high-definition mobile TV, video conferencing, and 3D television.
A microcell is a cell in a mobile phone network served by a low power cellular base station (tower), covering a limited area such as a mall, a hotel, or a transportation hub. A microcell is usually larger than a picocell, though the distinction is not always clear. A microcell uses power control to limit the radius of its coverage area.
An Access Point Name (APN) is the name of a gateway between a mobile network and another computer network, frequently the public Internet.
Cellcom is a regional wireless service provider based in De Pere, Wisconsin, with roots that date back to 1910. Cellcom began providing service from its office in Green Bay in 1987, when its parent company, Nsight, entered the wireless industry.
A picocell is a small cellular base station typically covering a small area, such as in-building, or more recently in-aircraft. In cellular networks, picocells are typically used to extend coverage to indoor areas where outdoor signals do not reach well, or to add network capacity in areas with very dense phone usage, such as train stations or stadiums. Picocells provide coverage and capacity in areas difficult or expensive to reach using the more traditional macrocell approach.
Wi-Fi calling, also called VoWiFi, refers to mobile phone voice calls and data that are made over IP networks using Wi-Fi, instead of the cell towers provided by cellular networks. Using this feature, compatible handsets are able to route regular cellular calls through a wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) network with broadband Internet, while seamlessly change connections between the two where necessary. This feature makes use of the Generic Access Network (GAN) protocol, also known as Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA).
In telecommunications, a femtocell is a small, low-power cellular base station, typically designed for use in a home or small business. A broader term which is more widespread in the industry is small cell, with femtocell as a subset. It typically connects to the service provider's network via the Internet through a wired broadband link ; current designs typically support four to eight simultaneously active mobile phones in a residential setting depending on version number and femtocell hardware, and eight to sixteen mobile phones in enterprise settings. A femtocell allows service providers to extend service coverage indoors or at the cell edge, especially where access would otherwise be limited or unavailable. Although much attention is focused on WCDMA, the concept is applicable to all standards, including GSM, CDMA2000, TD-SCDMA, WiMAX and LTE solutions.
Airvana was acquired by CommScope in 2015. Prior to that, the company was an independent provider of small cells and femtocells based on fourth generation (4G) Long Term Evolution (LTE) and third-generation (3G) CDMA2000 EV-DO mobile broadband technologies. Airvana products enable mobile operators to deliver 3G and 4G cellular data services indoors.
LTE Advanced is a mobile communication standard and a major enhancement of the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard. It was formally submitted as a candidate 4G to ITU-T in late 2009 as meeting the requirements of the IMT-Advanced standard, and was standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) in March 2011 as 3GPP Release 10.
In telecommunications, long-term evolution (LTE) is a standard for wireless broadband communication for mobile devices and data terminals, based on the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA standards. It improves on those standards' capacity and speed by using a different radio interface and core network improvements. LTE is the upgrade path for carriers with both GSM/UMTS networks and CDMA2000 networks. Because LTE frequencies and bands differ from country to country, only multi-band phones can use LTE in all countries where it is supported.
Continuous Computing was a privately held company based in San Diego and founded in 1998 that provides telecom systems made up of telecom platforms and Trillium software, including protocol software stacks for femtocells and 4G wireless / Long Term Evolution (LTE). The company also sells standalone Trillium software products and ATCA hardware components, as well as professional services. Continuous Computing's Trillium software addresses LTE Femtocells and pico / macro eNodeBs, as well as the Evolved Packet Core (EPC), Mobility Management Entity (MME), Serving Gateway (SWG) and Evolved Packet Data Gateway (ePDG).
Mindspeed Technologies, Inc. designs, manufactures, develops, and sells fabless semiconductors for communications applications in wireless and wired networks.
Small cells are low-powered cellular radio access nodes that operate in spectrum that have a range of 10 meters to a few kilometers. They are base stations with low power consumption and cheap cost. They can provide high data rates by being deployed densely to achieve high spatial spectrum efficiency.
AirHop Communications is a privately funded American corporation based in San Diego, CA. AirHop develops radio access network (RAN) software that addresses the installation, operation and performance challenges of multi-layer deployments of small cells in 3G and 4G networks. AirHop's customers are typically base station equipment vendors for wireless network operators.
3G mobile telephony was relatively slow to be adopted globally. In some instances, 3G networks do not use the same radio frequencies as 2G so mobile operators must build entirely new networks and license entirely new frequencies, especially so to achieve high data transmission rates. Other delays were due to the expenses of upgrading transmission hardware, especially for UMTS, whose deployment required the replacement of most broadcast towers. Due to these issues and difficulties with deployment, many carriers delayed acquisition of these updated capabilities.
Airtel India commonly known as Airtel, is the second largest provider of mobile telephony and third largest provider of fixed telephony in India, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services. The brand is operated by several subsidiaries of Bharti Airtel, with Bharti Hexacom and Bharti Telemedia providing broadband fixed line services and Bharti Infratel providing telecom passive infrastructure service such as telecom equipment and telecom towers. Currently, Airtel provides 5G, 4G and 4G+ services all over India. Currently offered services include fixed-line broadband, and voice services depending upon the country of operation. Airtel had also rolled out its VoLTE technology across all Indian telecom circles.
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