Rusnano's project company opens Russia's first Wi-Fi development center

Rusnano's project company Quantenna Communications opens a Wi-Fi development center in St. Petersburg. Russian specialists will work on complete technology development cycle for the first time, from algorithms and system architecture to industrial designs.

Quantenna company was founded in 2006 by leading experts in the semiconductor and telecommunications industries. The company employs more than 100 employees, many of whom have a degree.

The center will develop Wi-Fi chipsets of next generation that support 802.11n and 802.11ac standards and combine high data rates of up to 600 Mbit/s and 1.7 Gb/s respectively with the stable work in premises. Global leaders in wireless equipment have been using the chipsets of Quantenna standard 802.11n, that allow simultaneous transmitting of four HD video streams.

Quantenna attracted funding from Rusnano and venture capital funds Sequoia Capital, DAG Ventures, Sigma Partners, Southern Cross Venture Partners and Venrock Associates to develop the new chip. The total investment for the project is $79M, Rusnano's share is $40M.

This is a full-scale co-operation in the development of new technologies – Rusnano's Managing Director Georgy Kolpachev says - it includes collaboration on advanced scientific and technical solutions. The agreement with Quantenna will tap the potential of Russian science and engineering school. National specialists will become full members of the team, which develops world-class wireless equipment.

The Director General of Quantenna's designing center in St. Petersburg will be Nikolai Mikhailov. Previously, he led St. Petersburg designing center MStar Semiconductor, and completed the development of popular chip GLONASS/GPS.

Academic research, which is a strong side of Russia, plays an important role in a project of this kind - Nikolay Mihaylov says. - We will be able to create new scientific-technical school in Russia on the basis of Quantenna designing center by combining the abilities of Russian specialists with the experience of world-class international team.