Ircona and Bell Labs to collaborate

IRCONA, the Irish-owned design and development company, has entered into an agreement with Lucent Technologies Bell Labs to licence and develop advanced mobile technology created by Bell Labs that will improve the coverage of cellular networks inside buildings and in other areas that have poor reception.

Bell Labs will collaborate with Ircona and provide them with support to develop solutions that meet market needs for in-building cellular networking — in essence introducing Ircona to a sector which is estimated to be worth $700 million (around €554m) worldwide.

“Cost effective in-building coverage is a critical step in meeting the customer’s desire to make their mobile handset their primary means of communication,” said Dr Lawrence Cowsar, executive director of Bell Labs Ireland.