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.

“This new technology can help achieve that goal and enable organisations to provide their mobile users with a ubiquitous, transparent cellular network throughout their deployment coverage area,” he added.

Ircona, which is headquartered in Blanchardstown, provides hardware and software for global players in the telecoms and computing markets.

Previously known as Stratus Ireland, the company has been privatelyowned since a management buyout early last year.

“We have a long history of technology leadership,” said Ircona chief executive, Mike O’Keeffe.