Qualcomm Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of mobile semiconductor producer Qualcomm, has led a RMB100m ($14.6m) series B-plus round for China-based broadband technology provider Baicells, Kaixian has reported.
Founded in 2014, Baicells provides long-term evolution (LTE) technology that helps mobile operators, broadband access operators, cable operators, mobile virtual operators, governments and enterprise private networks provide 5G wireless broadband access more effectively.
The company has deployed more than 600 commercial networks to date, including Vodafone India’s 5G RAN project, the Japan Softbank Enterprise Networking Project and the Facebook Rural Broadband Social Networking Project.
Qualcomm disclosed its investment in the company last month without revealing any financial details.
James Shen, managing director of Qualcomm Ventures, said: “5G is not only for tier one operators and Qualcomm Ventures is proud to invest in Baicells, a startup company that is dedicated to fixed wireless access solutions and service platforms, for its future 5G leadership.”
Baicells raised an undisclosed amount of funding from investment firm Liuhe Capital and state-owned investment vehicle Beijing E-town International Investment and Development in February 2018.
The company has not provided details of any previous funding rounds, but counts internet provider Century Internet, Synergy Capital and Lei Jun, the founder of electronics maker Xiaomi, as shareholders, according to Kaixian.