NEC Integrates Kineto’s UMA Network Controller (UNC) into Home Gateway Solution

NEC Corporation (NEC), a leading provider of 3G infrastructure and handsets, internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions and Kineto Wireless, Inc., the key innovator and leading supplier of UMA technology, today announced that NEC will integrate Kineto’s UMA Network Controller (UNC) into NEC’s Home Gateway Solution.

Femtocells are small cellular base stations designed for use in residential environments that allow a user with an existing mobile phone to access cellular voice and data services over IP. Femtocells allow mobile operators to extend the reach of their 3G services to within subscriber homes by leveraging the user’s broadband connection. In addition to addressing coverage holes, femtocells give operators an opportunity to potentially shape end-user behavior by encouraging the use of 3G data services in the home femtocell where they can be faster and cheaper.

NEC’s UMA-enabled Home Gateway Solution enables mobile operators to deploy a complete end-to-end femtocell solution, from the femtocell CPE to the supporting core infrastructure, which is comprised of the NEC Home Gateway Network Controller (HGNC). Based on Kineto’s industry leading UNC, the HGNC enables mobile operators to leverage the 3GPP UMA standard to securely and cost-effectively support large scale femtocell deployments. The key advantage of the UMA-enabled HGNC is that it interfaces to the operators existing core network with standard IuCS/IuPS interfaces, enabling faster time to market as well as full service transparency for the end user.

“Operator interest in femtocells continues to increase rapidly, and it is clear that UMA will play a key role in supporting femtocell deployments,” said stated Tadatoshi Fujiwara, General Manager of Mobile Network Solutions Division, NEC. “NEC is pleased to be working with the leader in UMA technology, Kineto Wireless, to provide the ideal solution for operators deploying femtocell applications.”

“The mobile industry is quickly realizing the tremendous cost and operational advantages the 3GPP UMA standard brings to the femtocell market,” stated Rick Gilbert, president and CEO of Kineto Wireless. “By teaming with NEC, the two companies are able to deliver a scalable, secure and cost-effective UMA-based solution enabling successful femtocell deployments.”

Source: Kineto Wireless