Cohere Technologies

Cohere Technologies, headquartered in San Jose, California, is a network software company that develops innovative solutions to enhance spectrum efficiency and user experience in mobile networks. The company's flagship product is the Universal Spectrum Multiplier (USM) software, which is designed to improve capacity in 4G and 5G networks using existing spectrum assets. Cohere's USM technology can be integrated directly with Radio Access Network (RAN) vendor equipment or deployed as an xApp in network environments.

In February 2024, Cohere and Vodafone completed a field test in Ciudad Real, Spain, where the USM software demonstrated the potential to increase 5G network capacity by up to 50%. The company's technology works by mapping the "snowglobe" of the radio frequency environment to boost cell site capacity. Cohere has also developed a Dynamic Network Alignment (DNA) solution, launched in February 2023, which calibrates networks in real-time without disruption or human intervention. This automated MU-MIMO beamforming solution supports various antenna configurations and existing radios, allowing carriers to add network capacity through spatial multiplexing without the need for new antenna installations.

Cohere's technology is compatible with both traditional and Open RAN architectures. In Open RAN environments, the USM and DNA solutions can run as xApps on a RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC). The company has been working on integrating its technology with major equipment manufacturers and is exploring cloud-based deployments of its xApps.

In addition to its current focus on 4G and 5G technologies, Cohere is also developing Orthogonal Time Frequency Space (OTFS) technology for future 6G wireless systems. The company's innovations have garnered attention in the industry, with its DNA solution being shortlisted for the Best Network Software Breakthrough at the 2023 Global Mobile Awards.

Key customers and partnerships

Cohere Technologies has been engaged in trials and demonstrations with several major telecommunications operators. Vodafone has been a prominent advocate for Cohere's technology, conducting field tests that have shown promising results. The company has also worked with Telstra in Australia and Bell Canada in test environments.

In February 2023, Bell Canada, through its investment arm Bell Ventures, provided funding to Cohere Technologies to support trials of the USM software on Bell's 5G network and evaluate OTFS for 6G applications. Cohere has also announced a partnership with Mavenir, a US developer of RAN software, to explore integration opportunities.

The company has collaborated with VMware, integrating its USM software with VMware's RIC platform in 2021 and completing a xApp integration in 2022. Additionally, Cohere participated in Deutsche Telekom's efforts to build a virtual RAN platform in 2020. As of February 2024, Cohere's CEO expressed confidence in achieving full integration with at least one RAN player within the year, signaling potential growth in its partnerships and commercial deployments.