Ottawa-based Bridgewater said MetroPCS, which provides unlimited, flat-rate, no-contract wireless services in 14 markets and at least eight of the top 25 most populated metropolitan areas in the United States, has chosen its LTE product suite, including the Bridgewater Home Subscriber Server and Policy Controller, along with Subscriber Data Broker.
The Dallas firm is using the solution to support the launch of its LTE broadband services, planned the second half of 2010.
"We are delighted that MetroPCS, a leader in the evolution to LTE, has selected the Bridgewater Home Subscriber Server and Policy Controller for its 4G service launch," said Bridgewater CEO Ed Ogonek in a statement. "This competitive selection is a strong market validation of Bridgewater's unique approach to LTE and deep expertise and leadership in control plane transformations."
It's Bridgewater's first big deal for its LTE product line, launched early in 2009. While MetroPCS has a fairly small share of the overall U.S. wireless market, at roughly 1.7 per cent, it could possibly beat out market leader Verizon as the first provider in the United States to roll out the new fourth-generation LTE network, since Verizon anticipates it will launch in 2011.
On top of that, MetroPCS recently announced it's working with Samsung and Ericsson to launch a dual-mode LTE-enabled smartphone, strengthening its wireless offering further.
Bridgewater's other customers include Leap Wireless, for which MetroPCS made a failed bid to purchase in 2007.
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