Alcatel-Lucent and Qualcomm Technologies are going to work together on ‘small cell’ base stations that improve 3G, 4G and WiFi connectivity. The new base stations could be used to boost wireless network reception in places with a high number of people, including urban areas and shopping malls.
As part of the agreement, both companies will invest in a R&D program to develop the next generation of Alcatel-Lucent ‘lightRadio’ small cell products.
Dr Paul E Jacobs, chairman and CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated, said “Small cells greatly increase capacity by bringing the network closer to the user, thus enabling operators to serve the anticipated 1000x growth in mobile data traffic and dramatically improving the experience for wireless subscribers. Working together with industry leaders like Alcatel-Lucent, we can accelerate the dense deployment of small cells globally, driving another significant leap in advanced wireless broadband technology and services.”