Picochip has announced that its picoArray(tm) technology has been selected to implement LTE and other wireless processing in Airspan’s new multi-standard ‘small cell’ basestation, the AirSynergy. Designed to deliver high-performance data capacity to densely populated urban hotspots, AirSynergy is easy to deploy in metropolitan areas on buildings, strand-mounted from utility poles or on lamp posts.
Picochip provided Airspan with proven, robust processing power that allowed it to develop the innovative AirSynergy wireless broadband solution, which supports multiple standards including LTE, and includes integrated wireless backhaul. AirSynergy uses the same picoArray technology that has helped win Picochip a Finalist’s place in the 2011 GSMA Technology Awards, for its PC960x LTE femtocell solution.
Picochip recently made the first announcement of end-to-end interoperability between an LTE femtocell and commercially available user equipment (UEs), in partnership with Wavesat and Continuous Computing. This major step forward will be demonstrated for the first time in public at MWC 11 at Picochip’s stand (1D56), where the AirSynergy basestation will also be on show. AirSynergy can also be seen at Airspan’s stand (1B56).
Airspan is a leader in 4G broadband wireless solutions. The new AirSynergy system is designed for deployment at “non-telco” locations such as city centers and business districts. With a small form factor and embedded wireless backhaul/relay through Airspan’s iBridge system, AirSynergy is ideal for rapid and cost-effective deployment in sites where traditional base stations cannot deliver the capacity required.
“LTE carriers need to fill service gaps in their networks with small cell base stations, such as AirSynergy, to deliver the promised download speeds and capacity to their customers. Picochip is helping us to make this possible,” said Paul Senior, CTO, Airspan. “We needed a cost-effective solution with low power consumption and high RF performance; Picochip, as a leading technology supplier for small cells, was the obvious choice.”
“This year will see the femtocell market expand from its foundations in residential applications, to include metropolitan and rural deployment, in 3G and LTE,” said Nigel Toon, CEO of Picochip. “Airspan’s selection of Picochip for LTE is a strong validation of our leadership and a continuation of our long standing relationship. For LTE to deliver its potential, the network must be optimized around high performance small cells, with a dense deployment of cost-effective solutions like AirSynergy.”
The deployment of LTE depends upon small-cells, which deliver targeted capacity and coverage to the metropolitan and rural areas that need it the most. Deploying small cells is also far more cost effective than traditional macro cell approaches; thanks to the high levels of processing power delivered by Picochip’s devices this is possible in a small form factor.
Picochip is leading the way in small cell LTE technology. At the end of last year the company announced its PC500 solution, a highly integrated and cost effective LTE baseband processor that is code-compatible with the multi-award-winning PC960x µTCA-based small cell LTE system.
Combining Picochip’s field-proven OFDMA expertise with its leadership in cost-optimized small-cell architecture, the PC500 provides a low-risk platform for carrier-class enterprise and metro femtocell products. All of Picochip’s LTE solutions support both FDD and TDD modes of operation, a wide range of industry standard frequency bands and can support LTE/HSPA dual mode.
Airspan’s AirSynergy is based on Airspan’s 4th Generation of SDR baseband processing technology and is the result of an ongoing partnership with Picochip.