Andrew Corporation has licensed use of its patented remote electrical tilt (RET) antenna technology to EMS Technologies Inc., further extending availability of this innovative base station antenna functionality to customers worldwide.
Under the non-exclusive agreement, Andrew also has granted a limited license to Atlanta-based EMS for the manufacturing and marketing of repeaters that use patented Andrew technology. The EMS agreement settles patent litigation previously filed by Andrew over its RET patents. Terms of the licensing and settlement are not being disclosed.
Separately, Andrew also has granted non-exclusive worldwide licenses for RET technology to Amphenol Corporation of Wallingford, Conn., and Alan Dick & Company Ltd. of Cheltenham, UK. The agreements similarly entitle these companies to use Andrew's patented RET technology in the base station antennas they produce and distribute to customers. Financial details of the agreements are not being disclosed.
These three agreements follow previous licensing arrangements with Kathrein-Werke KG, Argus, CSA Wireless Group, Jaybeam Limited and its sister company MAT Equipment SAS, and Sigma Wireless Technologies for Andrew's RET technology. In addition, the company is actively seeking to prevent unlicensed use of its patents by base station antenna suppliers globally.
"Andrew is pleased that the licensing of its proprietary technology will broaden its availability and provide benefits to more customers," said John DeSana, group president, Antenna and Cable Products Group. "Andrew continues to add value and differentiation to all of its products and systems through its industry-leading investment in research and development."
"We are happy to reach a settlement of our dispute with Andrew," said Alfred G. Hansen, EMS president and chief executive officer. "Over the years EMS has made major investments in developing cutting-edge technology. We look forward to focusing our efforts on pursuing our business plans and on deploying our technology for the benefit of our customers, without the distraction and potential disruption associated with complex patent litigation."
Remote controlled electrical downtilt technology (marketed by Andrew as the Teletilt(R) antenna control system) enables network operators to remotely adjust the beam pattern of an antenna system and control its signal coverage footprint. The system optimizes RF coverage by enabling antennas to be adjusted remotely without needing to put the entire cell-site out of service or sending a crew to adjust the antennas. RET enables quick site optimization, independent of weather and site access difficulties. For example, operators quickly can adjust antennas to accommodate short-term changes in customer usage along specific sites in the network, such as high demand along urban highways during rush hour or during heavily-attended stadium events.
About Andrew Corporation
Andrew Corporation (NASDAQ:ANDW) designs, manufactures, and delivers innovative and essential equipment and solutions for the global communications infrastructure market. The company serves operators and original equipment manufacturers from facilities in 35 countries. Andrew (www.andrew.com), headquartered in Orland Park, IL, is an S&P 500 company founded in 1937.
Forward Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this news release are forward looking statements and we caution our stockholders and others that these statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results to differ from expected results include the company's ability to integrate acquisitions and to realize the anticipated synergies and cost savings, the effects of competitive products and pricing, economic and political conditions that may impact customers' ability to fund purchases of our products and services, the company's ability to achieve the cost savings anticipated from cost reduction programs, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, the timing of cash payments and receipts, end use demands for wireless communication services, the loss of one or more significant customers, and other business factors. Investors should also review other risks and uncertainties discussed in company documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Andrew Corporation
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Rick Aspan, 708-349-5166
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