Docomo Capital, the corporate venturing unit of Japan-based phone operator NTT, has joined a consortium investing an initial $11m of a planned $15m series E round in Skycross, a US-based developer of wireless radio antennas.
Alongside Docomo, which already used Skycross as a supplier, are Intel Capital, the corporate venturing unit of chip maker Intel, and venture capital firms TL Ventures, Investor Growth Capital and Gabriel Venture Partners.
Tomoya Hemmi, executive president of Docomo Capital, said: "SkyCross technology and expertise are key factors in meeting the growing, worldwide demand for 4G/LTE wireless devices.
"MIMO antenna technology is a key enabler of LTE performance, and SkyCross solutions address this global market need.
The company previously raised about $60m, including $23m in February 2009 from a consortium of Investor Growth Capital, TL Ventures, Gabriel Venture Partners, Intel Capital, Korean phone operator SK Telecom, military equipment supplier BAE Systems, Milcom (a technology firm and incubator which spun Skycross out in September 2000), and Investment Partners of Orlando.