MILAN -- Pirelli Broadband Solutions, the broadband access and photonics company of the Pirelli Group, announced today that it will introduce the first, integrated dielectric antenna for wireless access gateways, set-top boxes and other customer premises equipment (CPE). The new antenna was developed by Pirelli Labs Material Innovation, the Group R&D center for new materials led by the CEO Enrico Albizzati.

Through patent-pending, dielectric conformal antenna technology using polymeric composite, Pirelli has developed a new class of antennas that provide superior performance to ceramic antennas and the same/or better coverage and throughput than external dipole antennas. Moreover, Pirelli's new antenna delivers the added benefit of greater product design flexibility.

"Pirelli's new integrated antenna technology will allow telecom operators and service providers to offer a wider range of products including new stylish devices that end consumers will welcome into their homes and offices," said Corrado Rocca, senior vice president, Product Marketing and Development, Access Products, for Pirelli Broadband Solutions. "With the availability of MIMO and 802.11n technologies where multiple antennas are required for data and video connectivity over different transmission frequencies, the timing of this solution could not have been better."

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