Less than two months after announcing the sale of its wireless networks business to Nokia Siemens Networks for $1.2 billion, Motorola (NYSE:MOT) announced a partnership with Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) that will see the world's largest infrastructure vendor provide key LTE networking gear to the Motorola Solutions business for public-safety LTE systems being deployed in the 700 MHz spectrum.
The partnership will combine Motorola's public-safety LTE core and interoperability platform with Ericsson's LTE access equipment along with parts of Ericsson's packet core and related services. Motorola said its advanced devices, video security and command and control solutions will leverage Ericsson's platforms to offer public safety unprecedented situational collaboration and situational awareness.
Motorola had been shopping around for and access equipment supplier, and interestingly, passed on NSN which is buying its own wireless networks business, including the LTE business. Motorola Chief Technology Officer Paul Steinberg said in an interview that Ericsson provides the best scope and reach of all of the vendors Motorola talked to. Other advantages include Ericsson's packet core story as well as the fact that it is supplying a big piece of Verizon Wireless' (NYSE:VZ) LTE network, which is also utilizing spectrum in the 700 MHz band. He added that the deal is not exclusive.
With the bulk of the LTE infrastructure being handled by Ericsson, Motorola said it is focusing on and investing in resources and development to drive public-safety communications innovation in the core, applications and devices. In addition, Motorola said it will deliver the full spectrum of services to design, implement, support, secure, and manage these broadband networks.
In July, Motorola announced it won a contract that is the first phase of a private 700 MHz LTE network buildout for first responders in the San Francisco Bay Area.
For more:
- see this release
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