US : Marconi's Wireless Business Unit announced a multi-year agreement to provide a major U.S. operator with a comprehensive package of wireless network planning software - featuring Planet EV, Marconi's next-generation radio frequency (RF) design and optimization platform - as well as nationwide geodata services, network consulting services, and training.

The investment in Marconi's solutions demonstrates the operator's continuing commitment to its customers. With nearly 5,000,000 subscribers and operations in 26 states, its rapid growth and network-wide conversion to the latest Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and single-carrier radio transmission technology (1XRTT) capabilities have driven the need to continually evolve its engineering strategy, which made it necessary to re-evaluate and update its foundational design and optimization systems and processes.

The operator's dynamic environment and unique approach to creating efficiencies by leveraging multiple network systems and data sets made platform flexibility and longevity critical to its decision. After exhaustive market trials and vendor evaluation, and with its ability to support EV-DO (Evolution Data Optimized), Planet EV was selected as the highest performing solution available, and one with which it could grow.

Building upon a fifteen-year heritage of excellence, Planet EV is the result of several years of directed R&D effort. Utilizing the latest in Microsoft .NET and C# architecture and design components, the multi-technology Planet EV provides a powerful centralized network engineering platform from which multiple internal and external data sources and applications can be easily integrated and leveraged. The results are improved decision making, improved systems efficiency, and improved operational costs. Marconi's professional services team will also refine and increase the accuracy of existing RF propagation models. The combined result will be greatly improved design quality.

"We are delighted to work with an industry leader whose demanding engineering practices and commitment to advanced technology provide an ideal environment for Planet EV," said Chip Wagner, head of Marconi's Wireless Business Unit. "Our commitment to the technology is to not only support the design of evolving networks, but to provide a truly future-proof platform that enables innovative engineering methods and unrivaled efficiencies."

Wagner also noted that the focused research and development Marconi has invested in the software platform has resulted in continued market validation of the product's direction and market acceptance.

"This notable win with an important customer is more confirmation that the Planet EV platform is right on target with what service providers need," he said. "Our best-in-class functionality allows us to stand apart from the competition, drive the definition of excellence in our market, continue to add to our customer base, and extend our current market-leading position in this segment."

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