EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: SpiderCloud CEO Mike Gallagher believes the breakthrough of unlicensed LTE technology will “change the game” when it comes to spectrum, as he pledged to “out innovate” high profile rivals including Ericsson.

The US-based enterprise small cell specialist, which competes primarily with bigger vendors like Ericsson and Nokia, last month struck a partnership with Qualcomm to develop LTE technology on unlicensed spectrum (LTE-U), with Verizon set to hold trials around July this year.

SpiderCloud already provides LTE solutions to the US operator across its footprint, and Gallagher predicts LTE-U will prove a key differentiator when attracting operator partners.

“It’s not easy to compete [with companies like Ericsson] and you have to out innovate them,” he told Mobile World Live. “We continue to evolve our products and that is shown by our developments in LTE-U. Not only do we have to win with our current portfolio, you just can’t stand still – you have to continue to innovative. Verizon is very excited because the unlicensed technology once again changes the game.”

Gallagher also revealed the company’s recent $15 million funding round was taken “to accelerate the development of unlicensed technology”, as well as allow it to remain “an independent company for as long as we like, hopefully on the road to an IPO”.

He claims the vendor is now cashflow positive.

To watch the full interview, which also includes Gallagher’s thoughts on how the high-profile Cisco/Ericsson partnership has impacted his own company’s earlier venture with Cisco, click here.