AirHop Communications
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Wireless network technology, telecommunications software |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters | San Diego, California , United States |
| Products | eSON self-organizing network (SON) software |
AirHop Communications is a privately held American enterprise based in San Diego, CA. Established in 2007, AirHop specializes in developing radio access network (RAN) software designed to address installation, operational, and performance issues related to multi-layer deployments of small cell technology within 3G and 4G infrastructures. The company's main clientele includes base station equipment manufacturers that serve wireless network operators.
Technology
AirHop has filed 20 patent applications covering its eSON™ self-organizing network (SON) software, which assists carriers in constructing heterogeneous 3G or 4G LTE networks (“het-nets”) that work alongside existing macro base stations. As small cell adoption and SON solutions grow to enhance coverage and capacity, AirHop’s eSON tackles persistent challenges in interference control and spectrum reuse beyond the initial deployment phase.
The SON standard defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) enables base stations to detect each other and adjust radio frequency (RF) power levels to reduce overlap and interference. AirHop builds upon this foundation by delivering ongoing RAN intelligence that dynamically optimizes signal strength as small cells are introduced and overlapping occurs. The eSON platform improves spectral efficiency by facilitating coexistence of macrocell and small cell spectrum without interference, aiding carriers in boosting network capacity and overall performance.
History
Founded in 2007 by three former Texas Instruments engineers who previously led 3G research and development, AirHop was created in anticipation of evolving wireless infrastructure demands for 4G broadband. These founders departed TI in October 2007 to focus on self-organizing network (SON) software development.
In September 2009, the company raised $1 million in funding and expanded its leadership team with seasoned wireless industry executives. Earlier that year, in March 2009, AirHop showcased its inaugural 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) solution using Texas Instruments’ TCI1648x DSP at CTIA – The Wireless Association. By November 2009, AirHop introduced its first commercial product, eSON, an advanced self-organizing network solution tailored for 4G/LTE systems.
At the 2010 Mobile World Congress, AirHop collaborated with Continuous Computing and picoChip to present a reference design for eSON based on picoChip’s High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) platform. Later that year, in October 2010, eSON was incorporated into picoChip's PC302 evolved HSPA (HSPA+) platform. In February 2011 at Mobile World Congress, AirHop partnered with Argela to demonstrate eSON on a commercial 3G femtocell device.
The company announced its first 4G/LTE customer in May 2011 with Wazco's Metrostorm multi-sector small-cell LTE base station, marking a pivotal achievement in AirHop’s market expansion and product adoption.
Industry recognition
AirHop has received notable accolades within the industry, reinforcing its technological leadership and market position. It was named among Light Reading Mobile's Top Ten Startups to Watch in 2011, recognized as one of FierceWireless Fierce 15 Top Wireless Companies in 2010, and honored with the Telecom Council of Silicon Valley SPIFFY Award for Most Disruptive Technology in 2011. These distinctions highlight AirHop’s innovative contributions and strategic influence within the wireless networking sector.