Quortus selected in joint Lime, Ubuntu wireless network development

Guildford, UK – 23 May 2016 – Quortus and Lime Micro today announce that the Quortus EdgeCentrix (ECX) technology has been selected as part of a fully programmable mobile network capability launched last month by Lime Micro. The new network capability, itself a collaboration between Lime and Canonical, two of the UK's leading open source technology innovators, will dramatically change the way mobile networks are built in the future.

EE, the UK's largest mobile operator and part of BT, has pledged to use technology developed using this breakthrough platform to provide coverage to a remote community in the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

The new platform includes Quortus' software-based implementation of a complete mobile core network (Enhanced Packet Core, or EPC) as part of Lime's ‘network in a box' solution. Developers can configure the network platform via software available through the Snappy Ubuntu Core stores, allowing the creation of new mobile network applications and services. This radical new approach to mobile network innovation will allow operators to foster a diverse ecosystem of developers that can tailor network services to their needs – and those of their customers.

"Quortus is the clear leader in software-defined core networks, and so was the natural choice for our mobile innovation platform," said Ebrahim Bushehri, CEO of Lime Micro. "Operators are today looking for routes to innovate in their networks and this system shows the way. By providing the hardware and standards-compliant software, alongside an easy-to-use and accessible configuration platform, we create an environment that anyone can program: and this unleashes the creativity that mobile networks need."

Andy Odgers, Quortus CEO, commented: "We're delighted to be involved at the inception of this radical new development in mobile networking. The simplicity and ease-of-use of the platform is truly impressive: EE, Lime and Ubuntu have combined to produce a product that really will enable mobile operators to tap into ‘the power of the crowd' – and will allow application developers to drive value and innovation into the mobile networks of tomorrow."

Quortus is a pioneer of network virtualization and emerging mobile edge computing (MEC) technologies, and has been at the forefront of moving core functions and intelligence to the network edge since 2009. Its award-winning EdgeCentrix technology enables mobile and converged communications for enterprise environments; rural / remote applications; healthcare; and tactical / public safety / military requirements.

Speaking about the launch of the new platform, Mansoor Hanif, Director of Radio Networks at EE, said: "Apps and smartphones revolutionized the mobile experience and this could have the same impact on the network – we're allowing anyone to build an app that can introduce a new service or a new capability to a mobile network. That could be to connect a rural area of the UK for the first time, or to be part of designing how 5G works. This type of innovation is vital to evolving wireless networks, and we're making sure that the UK is at the forefront of that."

The Lime Micro programmable network in a box, LimeSDR, is available initially through a crowd funding campaign that allows developers to pre-order LimeSDR boards at a low cost. The solution is a low cost, app-enabled software defined radio (SDR) base station that can be programmed to support any type of wireless standard – putting significant power at the disposal of anyone who wants to innovate in the world of wireless.

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About Quortus

Quortus enables flexible, agile mobile communications networks that provide a foundation for innovative services tailored to a diverse range of end customers. Its award winning EdgeCentrix (ECX) virtualized mobile core solutions help increase operator margin and ‘stickiness'. They interwork gracefully with existing mobile networks, with small cell and HetNet architectures and with standard IT infrastructure, to create truly integrated communications platforms. Quortus' ECX products are highly scalable and can be hosted anywhere – in the cloud, at the network edge, or deeply embedded alongside a cellular radio in a single-chip implementation.

About Lime Micro

Lime Microsystems is the world's leading designer and manufacturer of Field Programmable RF transceivers.The company's software configurable chips can run any mobile standard and any mobile frequency and have been used in a vast array of systems including mobile base stations and small cells, SDR platforms, indoor navigation and machine-to-machine communication systems.

Press Contact
Ed Howson
Temono for Quortus
+44 207 089 8896
ed.howson@temono.com