Steve Perlman, an entrepreneur known for a number of innovations in mobile and the Internet, unveiled his pCell technology last year to much skepticism. Well, that technology is finally going to be put to the test.
The pCell technology aims to increase wireless connectivity speed and was developed by Perlman's startup, called Artemis Networks. The startup is announcing a deal with Nokia to test the technology starting next year.
Under this new agreement, Nokia and Artemis will work in conjunction with wireless carriers to conduct tests to prove that the technology works in places like stadiums, where a massive number of mobile devices can tax wireless networks.
The pCell technology essentially promises to offer around 50 times the current capacity of 4G LTE networks using the same wireless spectrum. The technology will work on existing Apple and Android smartphones, and while the technology works in a lab, the goal is to test it outside of the lab.
"I have seen the demo ... in a very controlled environment, but it seems to work," said Hossein Moiin, Nokia Networks' chief technology officer, in an interview with Re/Code. "What we're doing next is demonstrating that it does work. I'm not 100 percent sold, but I'm a believer."
The skeptics are waiting to see results from proof-of-concept tests.
Nokia will basically connect pCell to the networking equipment that it offers, which supports the handover to existing networks, meaning that calls shouldn't be dropped when a caller moves from one 4g LTE network into a stadium that has the new technology equipped.
Nokia will also be offering the financial backing to deploy the technology and integrate it into current systems. This will happen once Artemis demonstrates that the technology is solid and feasible in the real world.
If the technology is successful, it would mean that carriers won't have to erect more cell towers near places like stadiums to offer enough capacity to support thousands of connections at once.
Via: Re/Code
