Test & Measurement
Willtek adds TD-SCDMA to 3G cellular handset testers based on picoChip software-defined radio
picoChip today announced that Willtek Communications, a leading supplier of test equipment for wireless manufacturers and networks, has added support for TD-SCDMA to its range of software-defined 3G cellular handset testers. This announcement further strengthens picoChip’s agreement with Willtek, the company’s first customer from 2003. As well as TD-SCDMA, Willtek’s testers based on picoChip programmable baseband technology already support WCDMA and 1xEV-DO, making the company unique in its product breadth.
GuilMatthias Weber, Director of Product Marketing of Willtek Communications added, “picoChip technology continues to lead the pack with its flexibility and performance. We originally selected picoChip so that we could address multiple standards: with the launch of TD-SCDMA we now have three protocols on the same platform, all developed extremely efficiently.”
Industry observers expect China to offer a 3G service by 2008, when the Olympic Games will be held there. In the meantime, a new operational trial of TD-SCDMA, the home-grown 3G standard, commenced on November 7 in Beijing, Shanghai and three other cities in China. The trial TD-SCDMA network involves 20,000 subscribers.
TD-SCDMA was developed in China, and is one of the three Third Generation mobile standards in use in the world. The new services, which include video conferencing, movie downloads and multi-player 3D games, are expected to create a huge new market for telecom equipment makers, mobile carriers and service providers.