Final Predeployment Magnolia Broadband Test in U.S. Boosts CDMA Network Voice Capacity on Average 42%
Test Using Mobile Transmit Diversity Technology Again Yields Key
Dividends for Carriers before Commercialization at Year End
BEDMINSTER, N.J. (April 3, 2006) – Magnolia Broadband, Inc., a fabless
semiconductor company and innovator of antenna diversity radio frequency (RF)
solutions for the wireless industry, announced today that they have conducted the final
field testing of DiversityPlusTM, Magnolia’s Mobile Transmit Diversity solution, with a
major U.S.-based CDMA carrier. This is the final field evaluation before Magnolia’s
DiversityPlus handset-based chipset solution will be commercialized in phones starting in
Q4 of this year.
The testing completed March 27th and 28th demonstrates that Magnolia’s diversity
technology is able to boost the CDMA wireless network’s voice capacity on average
42%. This testing result is consistent with previous pre-commercialization tests
conducted in Korea by SK Telecom in July 2005, where data capacity gains of 45% were
achieved. Magnolia Broadband simulations show that similar gains can be achieved in
Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) networks as well. These tests demonstrate that by
deploying Magnolia’s technology, carriers will realize major savings in capital and
operating expenses.
The commercial deployment of Magnolia’s DiversityPlusTM chips in mobile phones will
enable wireless carriers to significantly serve more subscribers within the same wireless
infrastructure, increasing data throughput and coverage, while eliminating the need for
additional cell towers. Additional benefits for carriers and consumers will be improved
quality of service, include more reliable connections, fewer “dead zones”, improved
quality of service, a substantial lowering in the amount of energy mobile phones emit and
improvement in data rate through put from the handset.
“We are pleased to have conducted the final testing of our DiversityPlusTM technology
with a major US wireless carrier and we look forward to commercial deployment in the
US marketplace at the end of the year,” said Osmo Hautanen, CEO of Magnolia
Broadband. “Carriers deploying our technology will be able to continue providing a high
level of service while substantially reducing capital and operating costs.”
DiversityPlusTM is a family of RF chipset products designed around Magnolia’s unique
algorithms for CDMA, UMTS and WiMAX mobile terminals. By combining transmit
RF signals from two antennas in a unique way, the wireless operators increase their network capacity and significantly improve coverage and data rates to the individual
subscriber.
About Magnolia Broadband
Magnolia is an innovative developer of semiconductors for the wireless industry and the
first company to provide mobile transmit diversity antenna technology, DiversityPlusTM
using a unique RF (Radio Frequency) chipset. With DiversityPlusTM technology, wireless
carriers are able to significantly increase subscribers within the same wireless
infrastructure while boosting phone coverage, data rates and battery performance without
any changes to their infrastructure or related wireless air interface standards.
DiversityPlusTM technology benefits all wireless protocols and is currently being
commercialized for CDMA2000, UMTS/WCDMA and WiMAX standards. Since its
inception in 2001, Magnolia has raised more than $40 million in capital from notable
investors, which include Draper Fisher Jurvetson Gotham, ECentury Capital Partners,
Intel Capital, SCP Private Equity Partners, Selway Partners and Silverstar Holdings.
Magnolia has filed numerous patents related to its core technology. For more
information, go to www.magnoliabroadband.com.
DiversityPlusTM is a trademark of Magnolia Broadband, Inc.
Magnolia Contact information
Melissa Dolan
Fusion Public Relations
570 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10018
(212) 651-4215
melissa.dolan@fusionpr.com
Larry Wasylin
Vice President Sales & Marketing
Magnolia Broadband, Inc.
550 Hills Drive
Bedminster, NJ 07921
(908) 234-0885
lwasylin@magnoliabroadband.com