WiFi Chipsets Maker Celeno Raises $12 Million From Liberty Global, Others

Celeno Communications, an Israel-based provider of semiconductors for multimedia WiFi home networking applications, this morning announced that it has secured a $12 million funding round, which included a strategic investment by international cable operator Liberty Global. The company’s previous backers, including Cisco, Greylock Partners, Miven Venture Partners, and Pitango Venture Capital, also participated in the round.

The investment by Liberty Global Ventures comes only months after the broadbant giant opted for Celeno’s WiFi technology to power its multimedia home gateway.

Celeno’s Wi-Fi chipsets, powered by the fabless semiconductor company’s proprietary OptimizAIR technology suite, are said to improve 802.11n WiFi to deliver HD video with whole-home coverage (needless to say, a compelling offering these days).

The company claims its chips achieve up to 10 times the range and throughput compared to legacy 802.11n solutions.

Founded in 2005, Celeno boasts offices and representatives in EMEA, the U.S. and Asia-Pacific. The funding will be used to expand sales and marketing efforts around the world.