Arieso, new investment in mobile telecoms

Oxford, UK, February 2008

Arieso Ltd, the innovative wireless network optimization provider, has secured $10m in a Series B investment led by Oxford Capital Partners and Qualcomm Ventures, the investment arm of Qualcomm Incorporated. Arieso’s existing shareholders, Add Partners and Top Technology, also participated in the Series B round.

Arieso’s software optimizes the quality of service for mobile cell phone users, while minimizing capital expenditure and operating costs for network operators. By simulating network use, Arieso specifies the optimal setup for individual base stations to improve performance from the existing network, and can assess the return on investment of any additional sites. O2 Group, Telefonica, AT&T Mobility, Sprint, Vodafone and Qualcomm are among the organizations already using Arieso’s products.

Development work is already underway to make Arieso’s vision of self-optimizing networks a reality. This self-optimization focuses on the user experience by concentrating on where calls are actually being made and propagating adjustments in real time to continually fine-tune the network to respond to where users are and their demands for voice and data services. As Shirin Dehghan, CEO of Arieso comments, “The goal is to deliver new standards of quality in user experience, to seamlessly accommodate new services such as mobile TV, and to do this at a significantly reduced cost for operators.”

Shirin Dehghan then added: “This investment is a powerful validation of Arieso’s vision. The strength of backing, global reach and expertise of all our investors provide a major platform as we continue our development in the US and Europe, and expand into Asia.”

Richard Marsh, Oxford Capital Partners, commented: “Arieso has demonstrated its ability to deliver technology which is truly world class and has a very clear vision to make self-optimizing cellular networks a reality. We were highly impressed by feedback from customers, and invested because we see a strong company with a clear product roadmap that addresses network operators’ needs to improve the user experience and reduce capital and operating expenditure.”

Frederic Rombaut, head of Qualcomm Ventures Europe, commented: “Arieso is solving real problems for cellular operators today by improving the quality and cost efficiency of their networks, and we are pleased to take part in this funding round.”

Information for editors

Please contact:
Joanne Telford
Oxford Capital Partners
Tel: 01865 860 760
jtelford@oxcp.com
www.oxcp.com

About Oxford Capital Partners

Oxford Capital Partners is a science and technology venture capital firm with extensive experience in investing in and supporting businesses with high growth potential. Oxford Capital Partners looks for the best opportunities, backing exceptional entrepreneurs and investing across all stages of development, from start-up to IPO. Leveraging its extensive networks, Oxford Capital Partners assists portfolio companies in accessing international markets in Europe, the US, Middle East and Asia. Oxford Capital Partners is the manager of four Oxford Gateway Funds and oversees a portfolio of over 25 companies in a range of technology sectors, including ICT, clean technologies, life and physical sciences.

Oxford Capital Partners was named Venture Capital House of the Year 2005 at the Unquote Awards.

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