SR Telecom
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications equipment |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Fate | Filed for bankruptcy protection in 2010; assets sold to Groupe Lagasse in 2008 |
| Headquarters | Montreal , Canada |
Area served | Over 130 countries |
| Products | Broadband wireless systems, including Symmetry One and Symmetry MX platforms |
SR Telecom Inc. was a manufacturer specializing in broadband wireless systems, with its main office located in Montreal, Quebec. The company operated across more than 130 countries. Established in 1981, SR Telecom provided wireless communication solutions to both urban and rural telecom operators, facilitating voice, data, and multimedia transmissions.
The organization broadened its product portfolio through strategic acquisitions, including the purchase of Lucent’s broadband wireless assets in 2001 and Netro Corp. in 2003. Netro had previously obtained the Project Angel technology from AT&T, which introduced advanced features such as OFDM and space-time coding for data transmission and packetized voice services. This technology was subsequently renamed Symmetry One and later enhanced into the WiMAX-enabled Symmetry MX platform.
SR Telecom’s wireless offerings allowed telecommunications providers—who lacked access to traditional copper local loops, such as Telmex in Argentina—to deliver broadband internet and voice services by utilizing licensed frequency bands, particularly the 2.3 GHz spectrum.
Financial Challenges
In November 2007, SR Telecom sought protection under Canada’s Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA), with the court granting an extension of this status until May 2, 2008.
December 2007 saw the company receive WiMAX Forum certification for its SymmetryMX product range. Subsequently, on April 4, 2008, SR Telecom divested its assets—including brand names, trademarks, intellectual property rights, patents, inventory, and equipment associated with both Symmetry One and the WiMAX-certified SymmetryMX—to Groupe Lagasse for $6.05 million plus certain assumed liabilities.
Operations Following Acquisition by Lagasse
By mid-2008, under new ownership, the company reported ongoing achievements with its WiMAX-certified SymmetryMX solution. By mid-2009, the corporate website promoted SR Telecom as "The Industry’s Most Experienced Company," emphasizing its capability to deliver "WiMAX for Any Deployment Strategy."
Failed Debt Restructuring and Bankruptcy
Approaching mid-2010, SR Telecom’s website was taken offline shortly before the company filed for bankruptcy protection after unsuccessful attempts to restructure its debts with creditors. According to a Deloitte report, following creditors’ rejection of restructuring proposals, SR Telecom declared bankruptcy on June 25, 2010, with SBDT appointed as trustee over the estate.