SANTA CLARA, CA--(Marketwire - Feb 27, 2012) - [ BridgeWave Communications ], a leading supplier of millimeter wave gigabit wireless solutions for 4G network backhaul, signed an agreement with [ IBM ] (NYSE: [ IBM ]) to develop technology that will help close the cost gap between millimeter wave (MMW) high capacity backhaul solutions and traditional microwave (MW) solutions. This will allow mobile operators and wireless carriers to cost effectively deal with growing bandwidth demands.

Recent [ reports ] show wireless data traffic -- videos, audio and e-mails sent via laptops, smart phones and tablets -- rose 133 percent in 2011. With many consumers also migrating to 4G networks, this has put a significant strain on global wireless networks, especially in dense urban cities.

As data consumption rates continue to grow, this causes a reduced range of wireless network coverage, raising investment costs for building infrastructure with access points to cover service areas. Alternative approaches, such as integrating backhaul and small cell technology, can reduce these bandwidth bottlenecks and spotty service while increasing speeds over a larger network.

Utilizing IBM's silicon germanium technology, this collaboration will provide the extremely high silicon integration with Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) equivalent RF performance, across the entire 71-86 GHz spectrum. These devices yield ultra-low phase noise performance, enabling the very high spectral efficiencies and system gain for millimeter wave backhaul solutions required by next-generation 4G/LTE networks. As part of the integration process, BridgeWave will assimilate its proprietary micro-coax mQFN (micro-coax Quad-Flat No-leads) packaging technology along with the IBM designed devices to create high-performance, integrated, low-cost millimeter wave chipsets.

"Until now, the eco-system for millimeter wave components was very limited compared to their microwave counterparts," said Amir Makleff, CEO at BridgeWave. "IBM's research and development efforts in the area of millimeter wave SiGe, along with BridgeWave's proprietary mQFN micro-coax interconnect technologies will allow us to bring cost effective, high performance, carrier-grade solutions to market that operators require as they build out their 4G/LTE networks."

"BridgeWave Communications' use of IBM's silicon germanium technology as the basis for their backhaul network solutions will provide their customers with a platform that can scale to meet the exploding data growth rates of today and tomorrow," said Danny Elad, Manager, Analog & Mixed Signal, IBM Research-Haifa.

"We are extremely excited that initial sampling results of these designs are exceeding expectations and will enable BridgeWave to start integration into products in 2012," added Idan Bar-Sade, senior vice president of engineering and product management at BridgeWave.

BridgeWave will be at Mobile World Congress, February 27- March 1, 2012. Please visit Hall 3.1 HS 86 to learn more about BridgeWave's ultra-high capacity and GigE backhaul solutions.

About BridgeWave Communications
BridgeWave Communications is the leading supplier of high-capacity 4G millimeter wave backhaul and gigabit wireless connectivity solutions. BridgeWave's carrier-grade, point-to-point wireless FlexPort^® links provide a future-proof mobile backhaul solution for carriers and mobile operators looking to support 4G/LTE/WiMAX adoption. PicoHaul™ links provide the same carrier-grade high-capacity, small-cell backhaul for dense cell deployments. The company's 60 GHz and 80 GHz links offer up to ten times the bandwidth of lower-frequency license-free and licensed-band wireless links, while providing superior interference immunity and data security. Founded in 1999, BridgeWave is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. For more information, visit [ http://www.bridgewave.com ].