ALLEN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Xtera®, a provider of innovative subsea fiber optic solutions, today announced that it has initiated legal action against Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) (“Nokia”), including Alcatel-Lucent, and NEC Corporation (“NEC”) in order to halt infringement of its intellectual property in subsea telecommunications systems. Xtera has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) alleging that Nokia and NEC are using its technology illegally and without permission, and seeking to prevent the companies from importing and selling in the U.S. products that infringe on Xtera’s patents.
Xtera’s industry-leading subsea telecoms solutions carry digital data across ocean waters and directly inland to cities, allowing the transmission of data between continents. The company supplies both repeatered and un-repeatered systems, using its high performance amplifiers to deliver traffic through a network infrastructure that optimizes performance, delivers maximum reach and capacity, and reduces costs. Backed by continuous investments in engineering, research, and development, Xtera has remained at the forefront of innovation in the subsea telecoms industry. Its customers include telecoms service providers, content service providers, enterprises, and government entities worldwide.
Xtera believes that Nokia and NEC market and sell products that incorporate patent-protected technologies developed by Xtera without license to do so. These products include submarine line terminal equipment and components that are needed to transport optical signals across the ocean.
Keith Henderson, Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Xtera, said, “Xtera’s investment in R&D, commitment to innovation, and focus on providing high-quality solutions to customers have always been, and will always be, at the core of our strategy. Our relentless pursuit of that strategy has transformed the subsea telecommunications industry, helping to enable the effective and efficient transmission of data across continents and around the world. We are proud of our achievements and our role as an industry pioneer, and we cannot allow our competitors to unfairly, and illegally, take advantage of our technology. By initiating legal action, Xtera is not only taking steps to protect what is lawfully ours, but we are also helping to ensure that innovation and intellectual property, which are essential to scientific advancement, are appropriately safeguarded.”
Xtera has asked the ITC to issue a permanent, limited exclusion order that would prevent entry into the U.S. of products that infringe on Xtera’s patents. The company also seeks a permanent cease and desist order that prohibits Nokia and NEC from importing, selling, distributing, marketing and/or advertising, and transferring any products within the U.S. that infringe on Xtera’s asserted U.S. patents.
Specifics of the Complaint Xtera Filed with the ITC
Xtera is asserting five patents against Nokia and NEC, including: U.S. Patent Nos.: 8,380,068; 7,860,403; 8,971,171; 8,351,798; and 8,406,637. In paragraphs 81 – 89 of the complaint filed with the ITC, Xtera provides illustrative, non-exhaustive examples of instances in which Nokia and NEC engaged in the improper importation and sale of certain subsea telecommunications technologies patented by Xtera without license to do so.
About Xtera
Xtera is an innovative provider of sub-sea telecoms solutions and carries an extensive portfolio of intellectual property. The company supplies both un-repeatered and repeatered systems, using its high performance optical amplifiers to deliver traffic directly inland to cities. Xtera creates novel solutions that are suited for each individual customer whether that be provision of a full turnkey system, an open architecture design or supply of a particular product or service. We aim to challenge the norm and to provide more reliable and higher quality products over new and existing routes. Xtera is a flexible supplier who works with a variety of partners to create the best solution for each project and every customer. For more information, please visit www.xtera.com.
