Ubiquisys has raised US$19 million from new investors Mobile Internet Capital and Nissay Capital, along with existing investors, including 5CCG/Sallfort Privatbank AG, Accel Partners, Advent Venture Partners, Atlas Venture and Yasuda. The US 3G and LTE intelligent small cell maker will use the funds to invest in tri-mode 3G/LTE/WiFi small cell hotspots and support rapid growth as the company passes the milestone of 50,000 public access small cells.

Ubiquisys, the developer of 3G and LTE intelligent small cells, today announced it has raised $19m in an oversubscribed round from new investors Mobile Internet Capital and Nissay Capital, together with existing investors including 5CCG/Sallfort Privatbank AG, Accel Partners, Advent Venture Partners, Atlas Venture and Yasuda. Ranked #1 by ABI Research in its Indoor Small Cells Vendor Matrix 2012, Ubiquisys will use the capital to generate further profitable growth and accelerate delivery of innovative tri-mode 3G/LTE/WiFi small cell hotspots. The company is building on its leadership position in residential and enterprise femtocells, where its adaptive radio technology has underpinned successful high volume deployments, working with more than 70 operators across the world.

Mobile service providers are experiencing unprecedented growth in mobile data consumption, as consumers across the world embrace the benefits of smartphones in vast numbers. Macro network augmentation, spectrum additions and LTE can only meet a fraction of the extra capacity needed to meet consumer expectations. As a result, small cell deployments in public spaces, incorporating combinations of 3G, LTE and WiFi, are forecast to grow very rapidly, as they multiply the capacity of mobile networks whilst driving down costs. Indoor public spaces such as cafes, malls, transport hubs and office public spaces are the immediate opportunity for this type of small cell technology. Indoor is where most mobile data is consumed, where there is abundant low-cost fixed broadband for backhaul, where there are millions of available sites serving WiFi today, and where macro network cooperation is fully proven.

Ubiquisys’ technology, developed in collaboration with leading companies including Texas Instruments and Broadcom, is increasingly being selected by operators to fulfil these needs and open new commercial opportunities. Working with Intel, Ubiquisys has pioneered the smart cell: part small cell hotspot, part powerful computing platform. This new class of small cell moves rich content, cloud applications and core networking capabilities right to the edge of the network, transforming the mobile user experience.

“Public access small cells require extremely high performance, resilience and fully automatic, adaptive capabilities. By building on the heritage of our volume residential and enterprise deployments, we are able to provide solutions which can meet the rigorous demands of operators in public spaces,” said Chris Gilbert, CEO Ubiquisys. “We remain uniquely placed to benefit from the ongoing exceptional growth in the small cell market and welcome this investment to help us meet this demand.”

About Ubiquisys

Ubiquisys is a leader in intelligent 3G and LTE small cells, with products deployed by more than 70 operators around the world. The Ubiquisys difference is intelligence: small cells that continuously adapt to their surroundings and dynamically interact with their neighbours. Operators benefit from low operating costs and efficient use of spectrum assets, whilst mobile users experience dependable voice and high speed data services. The Ubiquisys small cell range includes public access hotspots, self-organising networks for enterprise, modular residential small cells and satellite-linked small cells for remote locations. (www.ubiquisys.com)

About 5 Continents Consulting Group & Sallfort Privatbank AG

5 Continents Consulting Group (5CCG) is an international strategy consulting and club deal investment company with presence in Europe, Latin America, the US and the APAC region. It was founded in 2008, comprising successful entrepreneurs and senior executives in the telecommunications, media and technology industries. With consulting clients including leading international network, digital entertainment providers and the financial industry, as well as international investors backing 5CCG’s club deal investment business, 5CCG has been ideally placed to recognise the emerging value chain enabled by small cells. 5CCG has entered a collaboration with Sallfort Privatbank AG, to which its direct investment business has been transferred. Both companies are headquartered in Basel Switzerland. (www.5ccg.com and www.sallfort.com)

About Accel Partners

Founded in 1983, Accel Partners has a long history of partnering with outstanding entrepreneurs and management teams to build world-class businesses. Accel today invests globally using dedicated teams and market-specific strategies for local geographies, with offices in Palo Alto, California, New York City, London and Bangalore, as well as in China via its partnership with IDG-Accel.

Accel has helped entrepreneurs build over 300 successful companies, many of which have defined their categories, including Angry Birds (Rovio), ComScore, Facebook, Foundry Networks, Groupon, Infinera,Kayak, metroPCS, Polycom, Playfish, QlikTech, Redback Networks, Riverbed, Spotify, Veritas, Wonga and XenSource. (www.accel.com or www.facebook.com/accel)

About Advent Venture Partners

Advent Venture Partners is one of Europe’s most established venture and growth capital firms, investing in world-class technology and life sciences businesses. We seek out remarkable companies that want a pragmatic and well-connected partner. We are dedicated to executing a risk-balanced investment strategy delivering consistent returns for our investors. Advent’s technology team backs leading European technology-driven growth businesses in Internet, digital media, software and services, telecoms, and cleantech. Our investments include: Zong, the leading mobile payments solutions provider; Farfetch, the leading online fashion marketplace; and The Foundry, a buyout of the Academy Award winning global visual effects software vendor for the post-production industry. (www.adventventures.com)
 
About Atlas Venture

Atlas Venture is a leading early-stage venture capital firm that invests in technology and life sciences companies. Since inception in 1980, we have helped build over 350 companies in more than 16 different countries. Atlas Venture is currently investing from its eighth fund and manages $2 billion in committed capital. (www.atlasventure.com)

About Mobile Internet Capital

Mobile Internet Capital (MIC) is Japan’s leading venture capital firm part-owned by NTT DOCOMO, one of the world’s largest mobile communication operators. Since its establishment in 1999, MIC has paved the ways for many start-up companies with disruptive technologies or services not only by capital injections but also by valued added activities such as business matching with various established companies in Japanese IT sectors. MIC’s sector focus is information and communication technology (ICT) businesses with a particular emphasis on those with strong leadership opportunities in Japan, the US and China. (www.mickk.com)

About Nissay Capital

Nissay Capital is a venture capital firm wholly owned by Japan’s largest life insurance business, Nippon Life Insurance Company. Nissay Capital seeks to invest in early and growth stage businesses, resulting in a well-balanced portfolio across multiple sectors and markets. Nissay has invested in over 1,200 unlisted companies with a total of 226 IPOs achieved since its inception in 1991.

About Yasuda Enterprise Development
Yasuda is one of the largest and most experienced VC firms in Japan, with more than 200 IPOs achieved since its inception. It is part of the world-wide network of the Yasuda Group, based primarily in Japan and in the US. Yasuda expertise provides support for international business development and strategic alliances, syndicating professional investors and strong corporate partners, and growing companies with IPO and M&A potential.(www.yedvc.co.jp)