Motorola to Acquire Orthogon System for OFDM

Motorola agreed to acquire Orthogon Systems, a start-up developing a high-performance fixed wireless, for an undisclosed sum.



Orthogon Systems, which is based in Ashburton, UK, offers intelligent OFDM-based, wireless IP, point-to-point transmission solutions. Orthogon has developed software-defined Ethernet bridges.



Orthogon Systems uses intelligent orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) along with a special multi-beam space time coding technique to provide far greater radio coverage than has previously been possible with non-line-of-sight (nLoS) technology. Unlike conventional systems that use a single channel radio, Orthogon Systems transmits several data beams via multiple antennas. These beams are recombined by multiple receivers at the other end of the point-to-point connection. If any one radio path is faded, there is a high probability that other paths are not, so the signal still gets through. Orthogon's Wireless Ethernet Bridge also employs adaptive modulation.



Motorola said the addition would expand its MOTOwi4 portfolio of IP, wireless broadband solutions. Specifically, Motorola will enhance its OFDM capability and broaden the support of its MOTOwi4 wireless broadband offerings -- including WiMAX, Mesh Solutions and Canopy products -- and accelerate the growth of its existing wireless IP access business. Motorola expects to advance Orthogon core technology to build it into a series of future products.



Motorola has an existing minority equity investment in Orthogon, which was driven by its venture capital arm, Motorola Ventures. In addition, Motorola has been a distributor of Orthogon's products through its Canopy business since 2004.

http://www.motorola.comhttp://www.orthogonsystems.com