picoChip extends lead in small cell market for LTE

Running the company’s proven PC860x software-defined LTE modem, 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 and a wide range of industry standard frequency bands.

“Small cells are vital for the success of LTE,” said Rupert Baines, VP of Marketing at picoChip. “But the traditional development model won’t cut the mustard for these products. With the PC960x we have given our customers a year’s head-start in system development. The PC500 extends this advantage. It is compatible not only with our proven LTE solution, but also with our market-leading HSPA+ and WiMAX products, and partner 2G offerings. As a result it offers both a smooth migration path and unmatched integration potential, paving the way to dual (LTE and HSPA+) and even multi-mode systems in the future.”

The PC500 uses picoChip’s multi-core signal processing technology (the picoArray(TM)) to deliver the physical layer (PHY), lower MAC and cryptographic features required for LTE. In terms of sheer processing power it is one of the highest performing DSP devices on the market, delivering 105GMACS and nearly 800GIPS. The programmable system is upgradeable to support interoperability, changes in standards or manufacturer-specific features.

According to recent research by the Yankee group, 65 percent of carriers expect to build at least some of their LTE coverage using femtocells ‘from the bottom up’ from late 2012. Applications will include both zones of outdoor femtocells, and building out macro and femto basestations in parallel, to achieve the most flexible and optimized coverage. (Source: Yankee Group’s 2010 Femtocell Forecast: Look for a Growth Spurt in 2012)

picoChip is the industry’s leading supplier of femtocell technology and silicon, shipping in volume for use on multiple carriers’ networks. The company’s picoXcell SoCs crystallize five years’ experience in the field; its picoArray™ programmable wireless processors are class-leading flexible, programmable solutions for any wireless standard, including GSM, HSPA, TD-SCDMA, WiMAX, cdma2000, LTE and LTE-Advanced. Over the last 18 months the company has grown into the leading provider of femtocell technology with its chips in the majority of today's commercially available femtocells. picoChip is the only femtocell chip company shipping to multiple carrier deployments in high volume, and announced in June it had passed the milestone of one-million chips shipped.

The PC500 will be available to qualified customers in Q1 2011.