Motorola snaps up UK wireless firm

Motorola will use the acquisition to build out its Motowi4 wireless broadband offerings

Motorola has agreed to acquire UK manufacturer Orthogon Systems for an undisclosed sum. 

Orthogon specialises in equipment using Orthogonal Frequency Division Modulation (OFDM) technology for point-to-point high speed wireless network connections with guaranteed uptimes for corporate customers and rural networks.

The technology uses a composite of radio bands which results in high noise resistance and makes it immune to physical obstacles between the transmitter and recipient.

OFDM can be used to connect office buildings or to provide wireless internet services to small villages where a wired infrastructure would be too expensive.

Orthogon has "thousands" of deployments in 53 countries, according to Motorola, which plans to use the acquisition to build out wireless broadband offerings under its Motowi4 brand. These include WiMax, Mesh Solutions and Canopy products.

Greg Brown, president of networks and enterprise business at Motorola, said: "Orthogon's products and technologies will advance Motorola's vision of seamless mobility by providing customers with easy, uninterrupted access to communication and information."