Mavenir, a network software provider for telecoms, has agreed to acquire ip.access Ltd, a 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G-ready small cell solutions provider, as part of the strategy to strengthen its position in OpenRAN radio business.
“Operators are looking to transform their 2G / 3G networks as they migrate to 4G and 5G,” said Pardeep Kohli, president and CEO, Mavenir. “We expect to provide a multi radio access technology single RAN offering for those operators that allows them to have the benefits of advanced radio solutions across all layers.”

“ip.access brings a strong foothold in 2G, 3G and 4G as well as in the enterprise space that we believe augments Mavenir’s market leadership,” said Aniruddho Basu, SVP and GM Emerging Business, Mavenir.

“Many subscribers in many networks and geographies need GSM and 3G service with LTE even as 5G is introduced. Mavenir’s OpenRAN and Enterprise solutions combined with ip.access’ multi-Radio Access Technologies positions the combined company perfectly for that future,” said Richard Staveley, ip.access CEO.

Nick Johnson, founder and CTO of ip.access, said: “CBRS/OnGo in the US and shared spectrum initiatives in Europe are potential opportunities.”

ip.access will operate as a business unit within Mavenir’s Emerging Business group and is expected to develop synergies with Mavenir’s OpenRAN, Cloud Core, Edge, and Analytics suites for end-to-end network propositions for both the CSP and Enterprise/Industry segments.

ip.access has more than 50 live networks deployed globally with CSPs, and hundreds of private networks for industry, critical infrastructures, data monetization, security and surveillance.