Funding for energy-smart mobile antenna

A TECHNOLOGY outfit spun out from Edinburgh University has secured funding to take its “smart antenna” for mobile phones and tablet computers into the $2.5 billion (£1.5bn) global market.

Laboratory research at Sofant Technologies has helped produce a smartphone antenna that cuts energy usage by 90 per cent

Sofant Technologies has received an undisclosed sum from Kelvin Capital, Old College Capital – the university’s investment arm – and Scottish Enterprise to develop its device, which it claims cuts energy usage by 90 per cent.

The company said that smartphones need better antennae to cope with tasks on 4G networks, such as streaming live television shows.

“Increasing functionality means that every new generation of smartphone performs less well than its predecessor, causing dropped calls, lost signals, weak connections, slow internet and battery drain,” the company said

Sergio Tansini, chief executive at Sofant, added: “This investment is a huge endorsement of our plans and our groundbreaking technology.

“Each generation of mobile device brings with it the capability to perform more powerful and sophisticated tasks.

“Consumers expect the highest standards, but conventional antennae inhibit performance. Our smart antenna will finally unlock the full potential of smartphones and tablets.”

Edinburgh-based Sofant was spun out from the university in 2011 after seven years of research and development.

A Kelvin Capital spokesman said: “We are delighted to be supporting Sofant. The team is addressing a real problem for us all with a ground-breaking solution.”