Aviat Networks (NASDAQ:AVNW[1]) is a multinational company providing broadband mobility technology to network operators, government, public safety organizations, the defense industry and private companies.
Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, Aviat Networks also has operations in Africa, Asia and the Pacific Rim, Europe, Mexico, the Middle East, Russia and South America. According to a company news release, Aviat relocated their corporate functions to Santa Clara from Morrisville, North Carolina in June 2010 because Silicon Valley "...is a leading hub for research, cutting edge technology and investment...and we believe this is the best place to relocate our headquarters."[2]
The company was founded on January 29, 2007 with the merger of Harris Corporation’s Microwave Communications Division and Stratex Networks, Inc.[3] and incorporated under the name Harris Stratex Networks. The company renamed and rebranded itself to become Aviat Networks on January 28, 2010.[4]With approximately 1,400 employees worldwide, the company's CEO is Charles D. Kissner. Mr. Kissner was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the company on June 28, 2010.[5]
Customer Profile and Recent ContractsAviat Networks customers include BT Group [6], Africell [7], Zain [8], Optus [9], Uninor [10], Hormuud Telecom [11], and Melita PLC [12].
Recent customer contracts include:
As the primary supplier of mobile WiMAX equipment to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL), the world’s seventh largest communications service provider, Aviat helped supply India’s first urban mobile WiMAX network.[13]Through its contract with MTS Allstream to build packet-based backhaul as part of its HSPA network, Aviat helps provides access to 97% of Manitoba, Canada’s population.[14]
Aviat’s NetBoss XT Network Management Solution for Lithuania Railway made possible the first-ever GSM-R implementation in the Baltic Region.[15]
[edit] AcquisitionsIn February 2009, Harris Stratex acquired Telsima, developer and provider of WiMAX Forum Certified products for use in next-generation broadband wireless networks, for $12 million. In September 2008, Harris Stratex announced a partnership agreement with Telsima for end-to-end 4G network solutions.[16]
Name ChangeOn January 28, 2010 at the opening of the Nasdaq trading session [17], Harris Stratex Networks announced they have renamed their company to become Aviat Networks.[4] Along with the name change the company unveiled new corporate branding with a new company logo and relaunch of the corporate website at www.aviatnetworks.com[18]
The company also changed their NASDAQ ticker symbol to AVNW. The new symbol begun trading on the morning of January 29, 2010 retiring the old HSTX. This date also marked the company's third anniversary since incorporation.
[edit] Restructuring, Layoffs and Plant ClosingsOn April 15, 2010, Aviat Networks announced that it would shutdown its repair-and-return and manufacturing operations at its San Antonio facility on June 1, 201, resulting in the layoff of 96 workers.[19]
On June 16, 2010, Aviat Networks announced that it was relocating its headquarters from its RTP facility in Morrisville, NC to its Silicon Valley facility in Santa Clara, CA.[20]
On June 30, 2010, Harald Braun resigned as CEO of Aviat Networks.[21] He was replaced by Chuck Kissner who had previously been chairman of the board.
On August 12, 2010, Aviat Networks announced a restructuring plan to save up to $35M annually by closing or relocating facilities.[22]
On August 25, 2010, Aviat Networks announced the closing of its RTP facility in Morrisville, NC resulting in the layoff of most of the 190 workers.[23]
[edit] Advanced IP MigrationSimultaneous to the brand launch, Aviat announced in a news release [4] that the updated name and logo represent "...a culmination of the Company's transformation over the last three years from that of a specialized microwave backhaul equipment supplier into a world-class provider of advanced IP wireless network solutions, with a comprehensive portfolio of migration solutions and lifecycle services." Xchange Magazine reported that Aviat was focusing in on aiding the carrier transition from legacy to all-IP and LTE networks, and helping operators reach rural and underserved areas with wireless broadband[24]. In support of these claims, Aviat announced a few weeks later at Mobile World Congress that it was adding cell site gateway functionality (normally provided by an external device) to the Eclipse Packet Node platform, making possible seamless TDM to IP backhaul migration. They explained that the gateway features were made possible by a plug-and-play Network Convergence Module (NCM), designed to fit in the Eclipse nodal indoor unit, giving wireless operators the choice to support legacy TDM traffic over an all packet backhaul network as an alternative to transporting TDM natively using a hybrid configuration.[25]
