Dish Network says it has plenty of options for its newly acquired wireless spectrum, and it looks like one of its first leasing deals will be with startup Artemis Networks. Artemis plans to lease H-Block spectrum from Dish to deploy its personal cell technology in San Francisco this fall.
Artemis Networks developed a solution that combines interfering radio waves to create a personal cell for each LTE device on its network. Artemis radios transmit signals that deliberately interfere with each other and then combine to create 1 centimeter PCells. Artemis claims that PCells will provide full wireless signal to each user, regardless of the congestion in the area.
Before Artemis can launch its service it will need the approval of the Federal Communications Commission. It also will need to equip users with devices that can access its network. This can be accomplished through the use of a universal SIM card or an Artemis SIM card. Artemis said that users who leave the San Fransisco area will be able to use their smartphones through a mobile virtual network operator agreement with an unnamed partner.
Artemis apparently realizes that launching its own wireless service may be an uphill battle. The company is also marketing network access equipment that uses PCell technology. The Artemis I Hub uses 32 distributed antennas to connect off-the-shelf LTE devices in any mobile band. The hub is an indoor solution, and Artemis said that remote radio heads for outdoor use will be available later this year.
Artemis Networks was founded by Steve Perlman, a former Apple scientist credited with the development of QuickTime. In 2000, Perlman started The Rearden Cos. to incubate innovation in the fields of art and technology. PCell was incubated there for 10 years before Artemis was formed to launch the technology.
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