Motorola Makes Strategic WiMax Investment

The investment by Motorola Ventures is an extension to the $24 million Sequans (Paris, France) raised in third round funding earlier this year that brought total funding to $32 million.

Earlier this week, Sequans said it was collaborating with Alcatel to develop WiMAX chipsets for equipment targeted for use in developing countries.

"Motorola is the foremost WiMAX equipment maker and we are grateful for their support as we continue to meet our aggressive development schedule," said Georges Karam, Sequans CEO. "Our collaboration will help to accelerate the growing WiMAX momentum and will have a direct impact on the rollout of WiMAX networks, providing high bandwidth and mobility to people around the world."

Sequans already supplies WiMAX chips for fixed broadband client devices as well as for basestations and subscriber stations. It is planning to start sampling in the first quarter of next year its first Mobile WiMAX chipsets for client devices designed to exceed WiMAX Forum Wave 2 certification requirements.

John O'Donohue, managing director of Motorola Ventures in Europe, said the strategic but undisclosed value investment demonstrates the group's commitment to companies with "world class technology" and is part of Motorola's strategy to deliver its so-called Wi4 line-up for wireless broadband.