ip.access has entered into a strategic partnership with ·nica to support the roll out of its cloud-based multi-operator small cell platform Viper'. ip.access will deliver its Viper platform as a service, enabling ·nica to offer its customers low cost, multi-operator in-building coverage and capacity solutions in residential, business and other hot spot locations operating as a neutral host.
Jorge Brandao, of ·nica, commented: 'Viper is genuinely a first of its kind that solves the issue of in-building coverage in an extremely cost effective way. The small cell neutral host deployment model is also a major opportunity for us to grow our infrastructure business while also serving the needs of businesses that are struggling with poor or non-existent indoor coverage.'
Nick Johnson, CTO , ip.access, said: 'By supporting neutral host deployment models our Viper platform completely changes the commercial landscape for small cell deployments. Shared access small cells are the next logical step in a path that began twenty years ago with the first tower sharing agreements. Partnerships like the one we have signed with ·nica represent a new frontier of opportunity for operators and for third party providers alike.'
Viper platform provides multi-operator coverage from a single small cell to reduce the capital and operational cost of small cells. As demand for better indoor coverage solutions increases, Viper removes a significant barrier to increasing deployments of in-building cellular infrastructure.
