NEC and Cisco announced a strategic relationship focused on commercial LTE networks for service providers.
The partnership combines NEC's wireless network equipment (eNodeB), NEC's mobile backhaul solutions and Cisco's Mobile Internet network equipment ASR5000.
The companies have completed network verifications in a variety of environments.
"NEC offers a variety of wireless base stations that support cells ranging from macro cells to small cells," said Nobuyuki Yanaginuma, Associate Senior Vice President of NEC. "The company adopts new and advanced technologies, such as miniaturization using the world's highest level of amplifier efficiency, low power consumption developments, and Self-Organized Networks (SON), which enable base stations to be constructed and operated efficiently. The combination of Cisco and NEC's strengths will enable the provision of competitive LTE systems and contribute to the construction, service launch and expansion of commercial LTE networks for telecom operators." http://www.nec.com/lte/http://www.cisco.com
- NEC serves as the lead contractor for NTT DOCOMO's commercial LTE network. NEC has also shipped commercial wireless base stations for KDDI and announced LTE field trials with SingTel and Telefonica.
- In December 2009, Cisco acquired Starent Networks, a supplier of IP based mobile infrastructure solutions targeting mobile and converged carriers.
- Verizon Wireless is using the Cisco/Starent platform in the packet core of its LTE network.
