Soma Networks raises $51 million for WiMax infrastructure

Soma Networks has raised $51 million in a fifth round of financing as it prepares to provide WiMax infrastructure equipment in places such as India.

The San Francisco company has raised $251 million over the past decade, VentureWire reported. WiMax is competing with cell phones networks to provide high-speed Internet connectivity and phone services. The backers include new investors Daiwa Securities Group, Ridgeway Capital Partners and the India Knowledge Fund.

Previous investors also participated. The past roster of investors includes NeoCarta Ventures, Morgan Stanley Venture Partners, Endeavour Investments Ltd., Temasek Capital, Huntington Ventures, Sharp Electronics, Signal Lake, Technology Gateway Partnership and Top Tier Investments.

Soma Networks has partnered with Bharat Sanchar Nigam, India’s state-owned telecommunications provider. The company makes both hardware and software to support WiMax networks.  The company has 190 employees.

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