| Type | Public (NASDAQ: PWAV) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Headquarters | Santa Ana, California, USA |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Key people | Ronald J. Buschur, CEO) Marvin MaGee, (COO) Kevin Michaels, (CFO) Khurram Sheikh (CTO) |
| Products | Hardware, software and services to telecommunications service providers |
| Revenue | US$ 591.5 million (2010) |
| Employees | 2,165 (2010) |
| Website | Powerwave.com |
Powerwave Technologies, Inc. is a global telecommunications corporation, with solutions designed to amplify coverage, capacity and data speed in wireless communications networks.[1] Powerwave supports the ability to access wireless services worldwide by providing wireless infrastructure such as antennas, base station and coverage systems. Powerwave’s product portfolio covers all major frequency bands and air interfaces to support customers’ existing wireless networks as well as efforts to deploy next-generation 4G WiMAX and LTE systems.
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Wireless technology allows billions of users to be connected worldwide and cell phone use continues to increase, particularly in areas such as China and India. Mobile subscriptions worldwide recently hit the 5 billion mark – and it’s estimated that 50 billion connections will be made by the end of this decade.[2] Portable computers and PDAs have also become a de facto standard tool in business.
Wireless also plays a key role in public safety. One-third of the 240 million calls made to 911 each year, are from wireless devices. [3] Wireless technology is increasingly used to connect families separated by disaster, assist emergency relief workers with response time and allow health workers to operate in rural areas. Wireless plays a critical role in helping fire, police, medical, security and other emergency service personnel improve communications throughout buildings and other structures for coordinated emergency response.
Without the underlying infrastructure to support wireless networks, wireless technology wouldn't exist. These wireless networks consist of a series of cell sites (also called base stations) that host the antennas and other equipment that is needed to broadcast and receive wireless signals.
Powerwave's technology can be found in major wireless networks. Customers include wireless OEMs and wireless carriers. Powerwave’s in-building and outdoor Distributed Antenna System solutions are used in hundreds of public safety and commercial deployments worldwide, including skyscrapers, subways, airports and sports arenas.
Originally operating under the name Milcom International, Inc., the company initially sold radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers for use in analog wireless networks. However, over the past 25 years, Powerwave expanded its business through many acquisitions. In 1999, Powerwave acquired Hewlett-Packard’s RF amplifier business, which was focused on the design and manufacturing of RF amplifiers for cellular, PCS and wireless local loop systems. This acquisition expanded Powerwave's product portfolio in key single carrier markets, such as GSM and TDMA. In 2001, Powerwave acquired Toracomm Ltd., a UK-based engineering research and development company providing a broad range of RF, digital signal processing (DSP), system design and simulation expertise for 2G, 2.5G and 3G applications. In 2003, Powerwave acquired Ericsson Amplifier Technologies, Inc., which was focused on multi-carrier power amplifiers. In 2004, Powerwave acquired LGP Allgon, a global provider of wireless infrastructure equipment and coverage solutions, in order to offer a broader range of products for use in wireless networks worldwide.[4] In 2005, Powerwave also acquired Kaval Wireless, an Ontario-based company that supplies in-building wireless coverage. This acquisition extended Powerwave’s product breadth and market reach in the coverage solutions marketplace with emphasis on the public safety and government markets. Also in 2005, Powerwave acquired certain assets of REMEC, Inc.’s Wireless Systems business, including its RF conditioning products, filters, tower mounted amplifiers and RF power amplifiers.[5] Powerwave acquired specific product lines from Filtronic’s Wireless Infrastructure division in 2006 to include transmit/receive filters, integrated remote radio heads and power amplifier products, all for use in commercial wireless infrastructure base station equipment.
Powerwave has office locations worldwide with a presence in 15 countries. The company’s three main locations are:
Since February 2005, Powerwave’s President and Chief Executive Officer has been Ronald J. Buschur. [6]