FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The MulteFire Alliance, an independent, diverse and international member-driven consortium, today announced that SoftBank Corp. (“SoftBank”), Sercomm and Rohde & Schwarz have joined the Alliance to advance MulteFire – an LTE-based technology for small cells operating solely in unlicensed spectrum.

“The addition of tier-one mobile operator SoftBank, leading telecom broadband solution provider Sercomm, and test and measurement solution provider Rohde & Schwarz underscores the value that MulteFire technology delivers across the ecosystem,” said Stephan Litjens, MulteFire Alliance Board Chair and Head Innovation Steering, Nokia. “The combined experience, dedication to seamless connectivity, and international reach of the new and existing members allows the Alliance to ensure MulteFire technology will not only coexist with other technologies in the global communications market, but also provide a quality and reliable service in all applications. We invite all companies with a stake in wireless connectivity to join the Alliance.”

MulteFire technology expands the LTE ecosystem to new and established service providers due to its ability to operate solely in unlicensed spectrum. ISPs, cable operators, small, medium and large enterprises from all verticals, building owners and venue owners can deploy a secure LTE network to deliver capacity and coverage where needed. For mobile operators, MulteFire opens new opportunities where licensed spectrum is scarce or unavailable and enables neutral host solutions when a multi-operator system is required.

New Members Join to Advance MulteFire Technology

A subsidiary of global technology player SoftBank Group Corp., SoftBank is a leading mobile communications provider in Japan. Its 4G networks utilize TD-LTE/LTE at speeds of more than 110Mbt/s. SoftBank also deploys Wi-Fi hotspots available to subscribers throughout the nation.

Sercomm is a worldwide leading manufacturer of broadband and wireless networking equipment. The company is committed to the development of telecommunication broadband related core technology. Coupled with a fully integrated engineering capability, Sercomm has successfully mastered the key technologies and market trends of the telecom broadband industry. Sercomm is a leader in Small Cells, Wi-Fi IAD, FTTx Products, Cable DOCSIS 3.0 Equipment, and Smart Home Solutions.

Rohde & Schwarz test and measurement solutions make it possible to master the complexity of wireless communications, assisting in smooth operation for providers and manufacturers. As the global leader in wireless test equipment, Rohde & Schwarz provides reliable and accurate test tools incorporating the latest standards for product design, certification, production and network optimization.

To join the MulteFire Alliance or for more information, visit www.MulteFire.org.

About MulteFire Alliance

MulteFire Alliance is an international association dedicated to building a global ecosystem in support of the common interests of members, developers and users in the application of Long Term Evolution (LTE) and next generation mobile cellular technology in configurations that use only unlicensed radio spectrum. For more information about MulteFire technology, its benefits how to become a member of the MulteFire Alliance, please visit www.MulteFire.org.