Aktino Raises $16 Million for MIMO/DMT Copper Access

Aktino, a start-up based in Irvine, California, announced the completion of its oversubscribed series-B funding round, totaling $16 million. Aktino offers DMT-based copper access platforms enabled by MIMO techniques.


The new funding was led by new investor Innocal Venture Capital and included Silver Creek Ventures, three other new investors, and all of Aktino's Series A investors. Aktino's Series A investors included Foundation Capital, CrossPoint Venture Partners, and Miramar Venture Partners. Joining them in the Series B round in addition to InnoCal Venture Capital and Silver Creek Ventures are Shea Ventures, Ventana Capital Management and Huntington Ventures.
http://www.aktino.com/Earlier this month, Aktino unveiled a unique new way of bonding copper pairs into higher capacity "fiber-like" access lines. The solution, which is aimed at business-class services for locations not served by fiber, is a carrier-class product for long-reach DS3 (45 Mbps) over copper. Aktino' uses Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) techniques found in high-performance wireless equipment. Unlike earlier copper bonding solutions, Aktino's silicon performs the bonding at the physical layer, overcoming noise and line impairment problems. Aktino's multi-pair transceiver dynamically load balance traffic across all the loops being used. The platform is T1.417 compliant and does not interfere with existing services such as ADSL and HDSL in the same binder group even at long distances and high bandwidth levels. Aktino also uses discrete multitone (DMT) technology to reduce self cross-talk between the bonded pairs. Aktino said its AK3000 product only one-third to one-half as many copper loops as other bonded solutions, such as G.SHDSL and HDSLx. It also features a line-powered capability.