Telecom Lead Europe: Swedish telecom gear maker
Ericsson announced the completion of its acquisition of BelAir Networks, a
North American carrier-grade Wi-Fi company.
The closing of acquisition follows the announcement on February 21, 2012 that Ericsson had entered into an agreement to acquire 100
percent of the shares in BelAir Networks.
This acquisition gives Ericsson a strong carrier-grade
Wi-Fi portfolio, technological expertise, IPR, and established customer
contracts and relationships.
The combination of Ericsson’s mobile infrastructure
technology leadership and BelAir Networks’ leading position in carrier grade
wifi equipment will accelerate the integration of wifi and cellular
technologies.
Established in 2002, BelAir Networks is based in Ottawa and
has approximately 120 employees. BelAir Networks’ employees will join
Ericsson’s global organization.
BelAir Networks produces indoor and outdoor wifi systems
for telecoms operators that allow people to surf the Internet without a
physical coupling to a network.
“We are gaining BelAir Networks’ leading position in
carrier-grade Wi-Fi equipment both in terms of installed base and product
portfolio. By integrating BelAir Networks’ talented people and these new assets
into Ericsson’s mobile infrastructure leadership, we will accelerate the
integration of Wi-Fi and cellular technologies and strengthen our heterogeneous
network (hetnet) offering,” said Johan Wibergh, executive vice president
and head of business unit Networks, Ericsson.
The former BelAir Networks’ staff will be integrated into
the Ericsson group in business unit Networks over the coming months and will
work under the Ericsson brand.
editor@telecomlead.com
