Westell is working on an enterprise CBRS offering with ip.access
Westell Technologies is currently working with U.K. firm ip.access on the development of a small cell product for enterprise that would use LTE in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service spectrum, the company’s President and CEO Stephen John told investors during a conference call.
That offering would be an OnGo solution, the CBRS Alliance’s brand and certification program for interoperability for LTE products using tiered spectrum access at 3.5 GHz.
“The primary targeted market for the OnGo small cell is private LTE networks, which could largely benefit enterprises. With OnGo, enterprises should have an attractive alternative to operate their own private cellular networks that more cost-effectively enable secured wireless connections across all of their critical operations,” the executive said.
“Plans for our OnGo small cell offering include a carrier-grade solution that features increased range, robust throughput and quality of service for voice and data in a single, high-performance device,” he added.
John also said that the company’s portfolio in the in-building wireless segment, with the current line of repeaters, battery backup units and passive components, continues to generate revenue.
“We also continue to work on another partnership arrangement that would expand the product portfolio and grow this area of the business. Finally, on the tactical front for the more mature IBW markets, we have strengthened our sales focus and continue to generate steady sales of DAS conditioners and commercial repeaters in places, where customers are adding to existing networks,” he said.
John highlighted that the company is seeing its customers to focus on evolving network densification designs like Centralized Radio Access Networks or CRAN, more small cells, deeper fiber access and increased in-building wireless coverage for both commercial and public safety applications.
“It’s a time of tremendous change in the industry with ever-increasing bandwidth needs and more and more connected devices. To address these requirements, service providers and network operators have entered into a new era of infrastructure investment, driven largely by the future transition to higher speed, higher capacity, 5G wireless networks and the expansion of internet of things,” John said
Westell Technologies recorded revenues of $3.64 million in its in-building wireless segment in fiscal Q2, ended September 30, slightly up from $3.55 million in the previous quarter.
IBW’s quarterly revenue in fiscal Q2 was driven primarily by higher sales of DAS conditioners and passive system components, partly offset by lower repeater revenue.
The firm posted overall revenues of $10.1 million in the quarter, down from $13 million in the previous quarter.
