ArrayComm is no stranger to such innovations. The firm is headed by Martin Cooper, the father of the cellular phone, when he introduced a prototype in 1973.

This deal specifically introduces Marconi to ArrayComm’s ‘smart antennas’. ArrayComm’s radio technology is unlike traditional, second-generation systems that broadcast the same signal over the entirety of a wireless cell to connect sender and receiver. The new technology allows direct signals to and from individual users.

Martin Cooper, ArrayComm’s CEO said: It’s widely acknowledged within the industry that carriers will be very hard pressed to deliver on the promised performance.

Such a agreement can surely only be helpful to Marconi in the forthcoming revolution, as mobile phone networks battle to establish themselves and conquer technical obstacles. This new technology will appeal to providers as it helps to limit radio interference that causes failed calls and poor reception whilst also increasing the bandwidth from a fixed amount of radio spectrum. It also enables faster data rates, therefore making other information services available. If these aspects can be employed successfully by Marconi, the company will be able to produce a better, more efficient and varied service to its customers.

Marconi will have to sustain such a networked business platform, allying itself with suppliers of new technologies and business potential if it wishes to compete with Lucent and Cisco in the US, NortelCanda and Alcatel in France. This is certainly a step in the right direction.