[October 16, 2008] E-Blink: Wireless Technology Tweet Paris, Oct 16, 2008 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- E-Blink, a French start-up specialised in designing and developing innovative equipment solutions for the deployment of base stations in mobile cellular networks, announced today the conclusion of its second round of funding, in which it secured 5 million euros. Based in Essonne, France, E-Blink was co-founded in December 2005 by Alain Rolland and Christian Bittar. E-Blink, a revolutionary concept Presented in Barcelona and Las Vegas in 2008; E-Blink's wireless' concept offers a real alternative to the coaxial or fibre optic cables that are typically installed in mobile network base stations. The solution offered by E-Blink facilitates communication between radio equipment located on the ground and the mast head network antennas. With no real market alternative, this solution simplifies equipment installation, minimises the visual pollution associated with traditional base stations and allows for energy savings, whilst guaranteeing the services that operators require. E-Blink's concept also multiplies the number of potential new sites that can be used for the installation of radio relay stations. The system is ideal for dense, mature networks that need to expand or be upgraded and helps to accelerate the installation of new deployments. Available for 2G and 3G operating frequencies, the flexibility of E-Blink's solutions offers Operators new, alternative tools to extend, optimise and conserve their networks, whilst shortening deployment timescales. High potential to reflect outstanding innovation The enthusiasm and ambition of E-Blink's teams, coupled with its simple and effective solution, give the French start-up company a real chance of achieving a significant worldwide market turnover of several billion euros. Distribution agreements are already being discussed in Europe, the United States, the Middle East and India. The potential demonstrated by E-Blink allows the company to benefit from the financial support of the OSEO (a French funding and advisory organisation for SMEs) and the commitment of its three financial partners, including I-Source and Alven Capital, who have already invested 3.2 million euros in this project. Moreover, E-Blink has already been granted entry into the SYSTEM@TIC cluster (a French government initiative set up to advise innovative start-ups, helping them to develop a network of business contacts), where it will find itself side-by-side with companies such as Alcatel, France Telecom and Sequans and will contribute towards the development of the next generation of mobile networks. Visionary directors "I have always been convinced that mobile networks and the environment in which they reside deserve more than the traditional cable connections used today. I am happy to note that certain equipment providers are also starting to adopt this line of thought. Our objective is to exploit the deployment power of our development projects in order to create full wireless networks," affirms Alain Rolland, co-founder and CEO of E-Blink. Christian Bittar, co-founder and MD of E-Blink adds: "Taking into consideration the current issues surrounding infrastructure costs and the race for speed and output capacity, our model is at the heart of a project that will benefit all network players, whilst ensuring respect for the environment. We thank Orange and SFR (Vodafone France) who understood this early on by accepting to host our first live products on a number of their commercial sites." 5 million euros to accelerate growth Today, E-Blink and its partners have chosen to work with 360 Capital Partners, who are investing 3.5 million euros in the company. Long-term investment partners, I-Source and Alven Capital have also added a further 1.5 million euros to this funding. "The investment funds that have decided to join E-Blink in its venture, were chosen for their proactivity, pertinence and their knowledge of the sector in which we are evolving," explains Christian Bittar. "This latest round of funding will allow us to launch our commercial deployment on an international scale and support our research and development programme, whilst simultaneously reinforcing our teams," explains Alain Rolland. "Industrial equipment manufacturers developed the Remote Radio Head (RRH) to reduce the deployment constraints of the fibre optic cable. Using the same logic, but going one step further in terms of the flexibility offered to Operators, the founders of E-Blink presented us with their project RRH wireless' for tomorrow's networks. We are convinced that this solution has its place in the market," affirms Franois Tison, Partner at 360 Capital Partners. "Moreover, E-Blink's product better integrates radio relay stations into the landscape visually; meeting the growing expectations of consumers and local authorities, and therefore satisfying the requirements of network operators." "One of our main qualities is to detect companies with hidden potential early on. E-Blink's offer is completely original, with a Product / Market relationship that is both simple and logical. We are delighted to have been the first to enable E-Blink to get its project off the ground and to accompany them in this latest round of funding," adds Franois Rene Letourneur, Partner at I-Source. "E-Blink has developed a unique technology that aims to revolutionise the deployment of mobile networks, a fast-growing global market," states Guillaume Aubin, Managing Partner at Alven Capital. "This is the type of innovative company that Alven Capital seeks to partner with and it's with great pleasure that we are renewing our support in E-Blink with this second round of funding." For this latest round of funding, E-Blink's management was supported in their search for investment by Multeam, a French funding and investment advice company (www.multeam.fr). About 360 Capital Partners 360deg Capital Partners (www.360capitalpartners.com) is a European venture capital fund investing at 360 degrees' in innovation i.e. innovative and high growth projects/companies mainly in Italy and France. With more than EUR100 mln under management, the fund operates through its offices of Milan and Paris and is managed by a very experienced team with more than 50 years of cumulated experience in the industry and with more than 60 venture capital investments realised in 8 different countries. About I-Source I-Source is a French venture capital firm dedicated to investing in early stage companies in ICT (Information and Communication Technologies), stemming from public or private research. With 60 investments the last 10 years, 8 funds and 172 MEUR under management, I-Source is specialized in: Corporate Software and Internet infrastructure, Multimedia content and Technologies, Communication systems and associated services and Embedded systems. The company is managed by a team of highly professional investors with in-depth experience in technology, R&D, marketing, business development, sales and management in IT sectors. More information at: www.isourcegestion.fr About Alven Capital Alven Capital is an independent private equity firm, based in Paris, which currently manages four funds totalling 150 MEUR: These funds take minority interests in fast-growing companies in media, services and IT, excluding biotechnologies. www.alvencapital.com About Multeam A capital risk consulting firm created in 1995 by Paul Berrux, Multeam has successfully raised funds for companies in new technology, software publication, industrial and distribution sectors. In June 2008, Multeam was ranked 4th out of twenty consulting firms specialized in fund raising in a ranking by Private Equity Magazine based on the number of deals closed in 2007. Funding Participants 360 Capital Partners Franois Tison and Emanuele Levi Alven Capital Guillaume Aubin I-Source Gestion Franois-Rene Letourneur Other Participants Legal investment advisors: Gide Loyrette Nouel (Pierre Karpik, David Sebban) E-Blinks legal advisors : Racine (Gilles de Boisseson) Funding & investment advisors: Multeam (Paul Berrux) CONTACT: Alain Rolland / Christian Bittar, E-Blink Press Contacts Tel: +33 1 69 00 19 35 e-mail: [email protected] Christina Green, Open2Europe (UK) Tel: +33 1 55 02 14 67 e-mail : [email protected] Catherine Kable, Alven Capital, Press Contact, Kable Communication Finance Tel: +33 1 44 50 54 75 e-mail :[email protected] Stephanie Roy, Alven Capital, Press Contact, Kable Communication Finance Tel: +33 1 44 50 54 71 e-mail :[email protected] Aurelie Ouanson, I-Source Press Contacts Tel: +33 1 39 23 02 00 e-mail :[email protected] M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. 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