Kathrein will be celebrating its centennial anniversary in just two years but remains among the cutting edge in antenna development manufacturing and development.
“Establishing a presence in the Richardson (TX) Telecom Corridor is an important part of Kathrein’s fast-track growth strategy,” according to Jim Nevelle, Kathrein USA’s President and CEO. “With U.S. and Canadian spectrum licensing auctions and its implications for additional wireless and broadband growth, the new location not only gives us close proximity to some of the major players in the telecommunications industry but also gives us access to a significant pool of highly qualified telecom professionals.”
The company has recently won several awards for its innovative solutions, including several prizes at the Fierce Innovation Awards in late 2016. In particular, it has been extremely active within the burgeoning small cell market.
Nevelle said, “These awards by FierceWireless speak to the innovation and expertise of Kathrein’s engineering team and are a true honor considering the mobile operator participation on the esteemed panel of judges.”
As the pace of innovation continues to quicken, Kathrein believes it will play a significant role in 5G, a term oftentimes used in the industry, but something whose standards remain in development. Jim Nevelle said the company “is heavily engaged with North American operators on 5G.”
Founded in Germany, the company has a rich history that includes making telecommunication equipment for aircrafts and ships during World War II, spreading television technology across Europe in the 1950s and 60s and taking the reins as a leader in the mobile industry in the 1990s.
The company is expanding its presence outside of Europe into the United States and is focusing on growing its market share in the coming years. In 2015, Kathrein USA moved its headquarters from Medford, Oregon to Richardson, Texas.
“In Europe, we’re the 600-pound gorilla in this space,” Nevelle said. “In North America, we’re a 200-pound gorilla. So, we have a lot of market share that we still need to go after.”
By Benjamin Horvath
February 23, 2017
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