TOKYO-NEC Corp. and United Kingdom-based ERA Technology Ltd. signed a joint-venture agreement to design and develop next-generation wireless network infrastructure based on the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) standard, said NEC.
The venture, called Telecom Modus Ltd., will be located in Leatherhead, Surrey, United Kingdom. Telecom Modus will be capitalized at US$1.67 million and will be owned 60-percent by NEC and 40-percent by ERA.
ERA, an engineering firm, has particular expertise in software radio engineering and application of smart antennas for GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) and other technology standards, said NEC.
NEC said the joint venture will benefit from its experience working with W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) technology.
