Alcatel-Lucent's lightRadio is 'the iPhone of mobile infrastructure' and it's protected accordingly here in Barcelona

Michelle Donegan

February 27, 2012

1 Min Read
lightRadio: Stealing, Security & Lockdown

BARCELONA -- Mobile World Congress 2012 -- Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU)'s lightRadio LTE metrocell cubes, of which there are 11 deployed at the Fira conference center, have attracted so much attention that they are given tight security to protect against theft, Light Reading Mobile has learned. (See AlcaLu lightRadios Go Live at MWC .)

Each night, at least some of the lightRadios on display are taken down and stored in a secure place, according to an industry source. An Alcatel-Lucent spokesman didn't specify how each of the 11 cubes on site are secured, but said that all of the lightRadios were well protected.

Mindspeed Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: MSPD) has two lightRadio cubes attached to a wall on their stand, but when the exhibition closes, a security team dismantles and takes the devices away for safe keeping.

The security measures are in place for good reason, apparently. Light Reading Mobile heard that a lightRadio cube was stolen from a stand by someone who sawed the device off a wall. Although, it's not clear when or where such a caper took place.

There are lightRadios installed on the Telefónica SA (NYSE: TEF) stand, for example, but an AlcaLu spokesman said that they are not removed at night. All AlcaLu's equipment on Telefonica's stand is "fully secured," he said, adding that on its own stand it has "military-grade security."

The working LTE lightRadios have caused a stir here in Barcelona. Light Reading Mobile even heard them described as the iPhone of infrastructure.

— Michelle Donegan, European Editor, Light Reading Mobile

About the Author(s)

Michelle Donegan

Michelle Donegan is an independent technology writer who has covered the communications industry for the last 20 years on both sides of the Pond. Her career began in Chicago in 1993 when Telephony magazine launched an international title, aptly named Global Telephony. Since then, she has upped sticks (as they say) to the UK and has written for various publications including Communications Week International, Total Telecom and, most recently, Light Reading.  

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