Rapid development and commercialization of products - A business imperative in the global telecommunication landscape

In the next several years, the telecommunication industry expects staggering growth, fueled by the Internet, convergence in voice, data, and multimedia applications, and telecommunication deregulation in global markets. Rapid product development cycles have presented unique opportunities to design, manufacture, and provision the products in these markets. The AirLoop (R) wireless local loop (WLL) team partnered with an original equipment manufacturer (OEM)/supplier to expedite development and share manufacturing of the 3.4-GHz subscriber transceiver radio unit (STRU). The design was completed in six months by cooperation between the Lucent Technologies design group in Chippenham, England, the OEM supplier, and the Lucent factory in Columbus, Ohio. This paper addresses the obstacles, opportunities, and lessons learned in the unique "design anywhere, manufacture anywhere" (DAMA) wireless design and manufacturing experience across international boundaries. The experience gained has positioned Lucent's ability to accelerate innovation and exploit new markets internationally.