CONTRACTS
Elcom TechnologiesReceived a contract for $1 million from a major US aerospace-defense military contractor for a VME-based synthesized RF source and synthesized broadband downconverter. Elcom was selected due to its ability to integrate a synthesizer and tuner in a VME package. This recurring contract will require support through 2009.
Etihad Atheeb Telecommunication Company (Atheeb) and MotorolaMotorola, Inc. announced a $165 million WiMAX IEEE 802.16e infrastructure contract with Atheeb that will enable the new service provider to offer compelling and unique broadband services to subscribers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The contract includes the delivery of Motorola's WAP 800 access point plus a comprehensive service package including end-to-end delivery of network planning, installation, optimization, and support services.
Agilent TechnologiesAnnounced that Bureau Veritas ADT, Taiwan's WiMAX testing and certification company, awarded it a contract for Mobile WiMAX Protocol Conformance Test (PCT). Bureau Veritas ADT provides Mobile WiMAX testing and certification services to the international community. It will use Agilent's N6430A Mobile WiMAX PCT system to deliver WiMAX certification services.
Entel and Alcatel-LucentAlcatel-Lucent has been awarded a contract by Entel S.A., a telecommunications operator, to deploy the first commercial WiMAX Rev-e (IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard) network in Bolivia. This network will support voice over IP (VoIP), high-speed Internet access, video, and other data services. It will accommodate stationary and nomadic applications and will complement the carrier's existing fixed-based broadband services. Entel plans to launch commercial service of the network by the end of this quarter.
FRESH STARTS
Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, NEC, NextWave Wireless, Nokia, Nokia Siemens Networks, and Sony EricssonAnnounced a mutual commitment to a framework for establishing predictable and more transparent maximum aggregate costs for licensing intellectual- property rights (IPR) that relate to 3GPP Long-Term Evolution and Service Architecture Evolution standards (LTE/ SAE). The companies invite all interested parties to join this initiative, which is intended to stimulate the early adoption of mobile broadband technology across the communications and consumer-electronic industries. The framework is based on the industry principle of fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing terms for essential patents. This means that the companies agreesubject to reciprocityto reasonable, maximum aggregate royalty rates based on the value added by the technology in the end product and to flexible licensing arrangements according to the licensors' proportional share of all standard essential IPR for the relevant product category.
Anritsu Co. and RFMWAnnounced Americas distribution agreement. RFMW will now market and sell Anritsu's high-performance, high-frequency coaxial connectors and components used in communications and test instrument applications.
TriQuint and AWRLaunched a new program called Project Jumpstart. This program is designed to give start-ups and new customers of TriQuint and AWR a low-cost introduction to the benefits of designing wireless applications with galliumarsenide (GaAs) technology. It offers 90-day free access to AWR's Microwave Office software and a reduced rate on TriQuint's TQPED foundry process run.
Tensolite, a Carlisle CompanyHas signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately owned Carlyle, Inc., a provider of aerospace and network interconnection solutions. With annual sales of approximately $125 million, Carlyle is focused on manufacturing wire and cable harnesses, rack and panels, and cable assemblies for in-flight entertainment systems and specialty avionics applications.
Anaren, Inc.Has signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire M.S. Kennedy Corp. (MSK), a Syracuse, NY-based manufacturer of analog and mixed-signal hybrids used in various military and aerospace applications. MSK had net sales of approximately $22.4 million in 2007.
Plexus Corp.Has committed to two facility leases that will modestly expand its North American manufacturing footprint. Plexus' San Jose-area facility will relocate from the existing 36,000-sq.-ft. site to a larger facility with 46,000 sq. ft. The facility will accommodate better operational flow, an improved work environment, and investments in manufacturing technology.
OSRAM Opto SemiconductorsOpened new Asia regional headquarters in Hong Kong. The office will house staff to coordinate sales and marketing activities in Asia.
Merrimac Industries and Nitronex Corp.Merrimac Industries, Inc. has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nitronex to develop highly integrated power amplifiers using Merrimac's proprietary Multi-Mix multilayer circuit technology and high-power gallium-nitride (GaN) transistor technology from Nitronex.
QUALCOMM, Inc.Has acquired eight licenses in the Federal Communications Commission's 700-MHz spectrum auction at a total cost of $558.1 million. QUALCOMM purchased licenses in the E block covering the Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, and San Francisco economic-area regions. These licenses double QUALCOMM's 700-MHz spectrum holdings throughout a footprint of more than 68 million people in 28 individual markets for MediaFLO USA's FLO TV service at a cost of $554.6 million. In addition, QUALCOMM purchased three licenses on the B block at a cost of $3.5 million.
RaytheonHas completed the System Requirements Review (SRR) for the US Air Force on the next-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) Control Segment (OCX). This is the first milestone for the OCX program, satisfying the Air Force's system engineering standard acceptance criteria. Raytheon's successful completion of this milestone establishes a solid foundation and roadmap for the achievement of remaining milestones.
IRIDIUM SatelliteAnnounced impressive financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008. Revenue in the first quarter was $74.3 million versus $52.7 million in the same quarter last yeara 41-percent increase.