Industry heavyweights sign up to NGMN alliance

A number of high-profile mobile players have added their collective weight to the Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) alliance with the aim of collaborating to create standards for the networks that will deliver mobile broadband services and ultimately replace current communications infrastructures post 2010.

The NGMN this week added the likes of Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Ericsson, Intel, Motorola, Nokia, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nortel, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments to its supporter list. In addition, it also announced that it created a new intellectual property rights (IPR) agreement that will benefit stakeholders by making costs associated with the creation of next generation technologies more predictable and transparent for stakeholders.

"NGMN is very excited about collaborating with more than 30 key players of our industry to drive a common goal of developing and deploying cost-effective mobile technologies beyond 3G, which is beneficial for all participants in the mobile communication ecosystem and in particular for our existing and future customers," said Hamid Akhavan, NGMN's chairman and chief executive of T-Mobile International.

"We are delighted to represent a major part of the global community of operators and vendors - let's celebrate this outstanding achievement."

The IPR regime was created in response to the fact that IPR licensing is increasingly becoming an industry hot topic, and one that calls for clear standards, terms and costs that companies can factor into their decision making processes, according to the NGMN alliance.

"NGMN has reached an unprecedented agreement with global technology providers to receive notifications of proposed IPR terms for next generation technologies," added Akhavan.

"This chosen approach will create an environment of increased investment and innovation, thus accelerating adoption of mobile broadband services. We look forward to expanding our relationship into many new areas over years to come."

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