Virgin Tests LTE Small Cells

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Airspan Networks Inc., a leading provider of 4G broadband wireless access networks, announced today that its small cell LTE solution is being used by Virgin Media to demonstrate small-cell LTE performance for major metropolitan areas. Virgin Media carried out a trial in London in December 2011 and hopes to expand its 4G trials over the coming months.

Virgin Media is using Airspan’s AirSynergy pico eNodeB (LTE Base Station). The small-cell LTE architecture enables the carrier to focus coverage according to customer demand, creating a network with maximum capacity and optimum efficiency. This tailored approach would enable Virgin Media to offer mobile network operators the opportunity to create very high capacity radio access networks in order to meet the explosive growth in demand for high speed mobile broadband within the main metropolitan centre.

Kevin Baughan, Director of Wireless, Virgin Media said “We want to put the power of our fibre optic network wherever people need it most, both inside and outside the home. Our technology trial in Oxford Street, one of London’s busiest streets, proved the potential benefits of a small cell solution and plugging into our network could help offer unrivalled capacity for mobile data services.”

The London trial operated on a test license granted by the regulator Ofcom to allow Virgin Media and Airspan to conduct the trial and prove the potential benefits of the network.

Airspan Networks Inc. (Nasdaq: AIRN)