Bridgewater Systems has sealed a deal to provide network management for Sprint's new nationwide wireless network.

The Ottawa-based company, which provides software for network access control, will now supply authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) services for Sprint's new XOHM WiMAX network, which is being commercially deployed this year. Bridgewater is already the incumbent supplier of AAA services for Sprint's existing code-division multiple access (CDMA) 3G network.

"Bridgewater is pleased that its network access control solution is expanding within Sprint to enable innovative new 4G services for XOHM customers, such as light-touch provisioning for open access models," stated Phil Thrasher, senior vice-president of worldwide sales, services and marketing for Bridgewater. "Already proven in Sprint's network to provide scalable, high-performance access control services, our solution is able to interoperate with a broad range of vendor equipment types, providing Sprint with the flexibility to evolve their network and accelerate time to market for new services."

The deal will allow Sprint to provide network access control and support open network access services such as over-the-air provisioning of devices, subscribers and on-demand service models, and lawful intercept services.