Tag: wireless infrastructure

  • Rohde & Schwarz, 7Layers Verify Improved Test Method for ECC

    Rohde & Schwarz and 7Layers have verified and validated the synchronized test approach to determine the Envelope Correlation Coefficient (ECC), a value characterizing the antenna subsystem of multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) LTE devices. The Synchronized ECC approach delivers significantly shorter test durations and repeatable results, ultimately resulting in reduced costs. Long term, this collaboration will also help product manufacturers develop devices that achieve greater data speeds over LTE by using highly optimized MIMO antenna configurations, the companies said.

    The Synchronized ECC approach involves over-the-air transfer of measured data between the test platform and a mobile device in a synchronized fashion. This method, proposed by a leading U.S. wireless carrier, does not require any overhead or user interaction to calculate the ECC, making it easier and faster to execute test versus other approaches. 7Layers test engineers used the Rohde & Schwarz TS8991 OTA Performance Test System and software option R&S AMS32-K30 as a test platform for validation.

    “”7Layers is excited to help bring an ecosystem of vendors together to advance testing of LTE enabled devices utilizing MIMO,”” commented Mahesh Kodukula, business development manager of 7Layers. “”As an accredited test laboratory, we provided a realistic test environment for our partners.””

    “”We are pleased to enable this type of testing on our R&S TS8991 OTA test platform and to offer this functionality to a variety of customers that have been waiting for this feature,”” said Thorsten Hertel, OTA product specialist at Rohde & Schwarz. “”We strive to meet the industry needs of the leading edge development of LTE devices.””

    Visit Rohde & Schwarz at CTIA 2013, May 21 – 23 at booth 4148 in the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV.

  • Sprint Selects Telit as Module Provider, Approves CDMA 1xRTT M2M Module

    Telit Wireless Solutions, provider of high-quality machine-to-machine (M2M) modules, services and solutions, has announced approval by Sprint for its CE910-DUAL cellular M2M module. A dual-band CDMA 1xRTT module, the CE910-DUAL allows Sprint M2M Solutions customers to deploy a wide range of M2M applications benefiting from reliable connectivity over Sprint’s nationwide network while enabling cost-sensitive business plans.

    The CE910-DUAL packs high value features in its ultra-compact 28.2 x 28.2 x 2.04 mm Land Grid Array (LGA) package. USB 2.0 full-speed support and a rich set of drivers make it ideal for embedded applications requiring easy integration to platforms based on the latest desktop and mobile operating systems such as Windows and Linux. Full-duplex data rate of 153.6 Kpbs and extended operating temperature range of -30°C to +85°C make it a suitable platform for mobile and fixed applications such as vending, point-of-sale (POS), tracking,  smart metering, and telematics devices.

    “Sprint plans to maintain our CDMA 1xRTT network capability for the long term as part of our overall Network Vision strategy,” said Wayne Ward, vice president, M2M Group, Sprint. “We have been working with Telit for several years as a Sprint preferred provider and one of the leading module suppliers to the M2M industry and believe their xE910 form factor makes it easy for customers to deploy on either the EV-DO or 1xRTT CDMA Sprint networks.”

    “With this approval, the cost-effectiveness, reliability and functionality of the CE910-DUAL module are accessible to Sprint M2M and Telit customers along with outstanding support and network connectivity from one of the nation’s top-rated cellular networks,” said Mike Ueland, senior vice president and general manager of Telit Wireless Solutions North America.

    Part of the xE910 form factor family, the CE910-DUAL protects investments by offering complete compatibility with the DE910-DUAL, a Sprint-approved companion product for EV-DO Rev. A applications.

  • Polaris Wireless Closes Recapitalization Round

    Polaris Wireless, a high-accuracy, software-based wireless location solution company based in Mountain View, California, today announced that the company closed on a recapitalization of existing equity interests on April 25, 2013. As part of the recapitalization, Polaris Wireless completed a Series C financing with $10 million from Industry Ventures, a leading investment firm focused on the venture capital market, and Industry Ventures Managing Director Victor Hwang has joined the Polaris Wireless Board of Directors.

    “Industry Ventures seeks to invest in market leading growth companies and we believe Polaris Wireless is a clear leader in the wireless location market,” said Hwang. “We are very excited about Polaris Wireless’ strong growth trajectory and global presence, and look forward to working with Manlio Allegra and the senior team at Polaris Wireless in their next chapter of growth.”

    The investment by Industry Ventures also returned capital to Series A investor Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ) and will also be used to fund Polaris Wireless’ future international growth.

    “We look forward to an exciting new growth chapter for our company with Industry Ventures by our side,” said Manlio Allegra, Polaris Wireless CEO and Co-founder.

    Polaris Wireles experienced a record increase in revenue and profitability in 2011 and 2012, driven by aggressive growth for its location solutions across the globe. Twenty-four U.S. wireless carriers, six managed services partners, and 15 international deployments now rely on Polaris Wireless location solutions to enable emergency call applications, lawful and mass location surveillance, and other location-based services.

  • Sprint Selects u-blox for Long-Term CDMA Network Support

    Sprint and u-blox have expanded their collaboration in support of Sprint’s commitment to the 2G (1xRTT) CDMA network. As a carrier committed to network choice, Sprint believes M2M customers should be able to choose or combine 2G, 3G and 4G LTE capabilities, depending on their particular requirements, u-blox said.

    Sprint expects to maintain its 2G network capability for the long term as part of its overall network vision strategy. Both companies believe 2G remains an important network option for business customers, including those that deploy machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions as part of their service or product offerings.

    This collaboration will allow business customers to extend the product lifetime of their existing 2G M2M devices by seamlessly migrating to the CDMA network with minimal effort. Those customers concerned about the continued availability of 2G GSM networks in the U.S., can now select from a variety of affordable u-blox modems tested for compatibility on Sprint’s CDMA 1xRTT network. The u‑blox FW75-C200 modem, a pin-compatible replacement for widely used GSM modem MC75i and its variants, is well suited to continue on 2G without having to migrate to much more expensive 3G and 4G modems.

    “Now is the opportune time for any customers migrating off GSM or designing new products for telematics, telemetry, automotive, and security applications to take advantage of Sprint’s 2G platform,” said Wayne Ward, vice president, M2M Group, Sprint. “Sprint’s network vision strategy enables ongoing 2G connectivity with the security and performance advantages of CDMA, while also supporting a smooth path to CDMA 3G and LTE 4G for customers who choose that transition. We are pleased to collaborate with u-blox to bring these options to 2G-embedded M2M customers.”

    Sprint’s network vision supports network choice for our customers nationwide. As with 3G, Sprint Network Vision is expected to improve Sprint 2G coverage, capacity, and reliability. M2M and other emerging solutions can involve widely varying data transmission speeds. Sprint expects to be able to provide all these network platforms for the long haul as part of a continuing portfolio of technology options.

    “We are proud to have been selected as the preferred provider by Sprint. It will allow customers to leverage Sprint’s impressive CDMA coverage in the US. Forced migration from 2G GSM to HSPA can now be avoided, given Sprint’s commitment to 2G longevity of the CDMA network,” said Nikolaos Papadopoulos, president of u-blox America. “Should customers still want to offer their devices in 2G and 3G, we at u-blox have already prepared for this parallel track with our nested-design module philosophy for 2G/3G platforms, where customers can select the inexpensive CDMA SMT modem LISA-C200.”

    u-blox CDMA module series consists of the FW75 CDMA 1xRTT module in an industry-standard package, as well as the LISA and PCI-express form factors. In addition to technical support, reference designs, evaluation kits, firmware and free module samples, Sprint and u-blox will soon announce nationwide hands-on seminars focusing on GSM to CDMA modem migration.

  • ESA Telecom and Navigation Vehicle Ready for Test Driving

    The radio spectrum is about to get even busier, as Europe’s Galileo satnav system starts services, at the same time the European Space Agency (ESA) tests novel satellite-based telecommunication services. Supporting these developments from the ground, ESA’s new custom-built Telecommunications and Navigation Testbed Vehicle will measure the resulting signals from all over Europe.

    Adapted from a Mercedes Benz Sprinter van, this unique measurement vehicle has been delivered to ESTEC by Austria’s Joanneum Research institute. “This is a dual-purpose vehicle, suitable for both telecommunications and navigation system testing,” explained Simon Johns of ESA’s Radionavigation Systems and Techniques Section.

    “For navigation, we have the Galileo constellation coming on stream, as well as the stepping up of ESA’s GNSS Evolution programme — designing what comes next after Galileo’s first generation.”

    The four wheel-drive vehicle can host a three-person team, and is crammed with dedicated navigation and telecommunication monitoring equipment.

    Testbed vehicle screen.
    Testbed vehicle screen.

    “One of the main goals driving the design was to have an ‘easy to adapt’ test platform suitable to set up test campaigns for different mobile satellite systems and standards that would require different types of antennas and specific receiver/transmit equipment,” explained Olivier Smeyers of ESA’s Communication-TT&C Systems and Techniques Section.

    “On the telecommunications side, there is a continuous effort to enhance current and create new mobile satellite-based broadcast and interactive services via the evolution of current systems or developing new standards,” Smeyers said. “Testing in the field is an essential element for validating and eventually establishing evolved or new standards. The vehicle has built-in multimedia equipment, including storage and control computers, multimedia gateway, passenger LCD screens, cameras and microphones, to serve this purpose.”

    The vehicle features include two removable roof plates to mount specialized antennas (one currently hosts the antenna of a Broadband Global Area Network satellite terminal for Internet connectivity and multimedia and data streaming), an 8-meter-high telescopic mast capable of carrying 25 kilograms, a rubidium atomic clock synchronized to GPS time with nanosecond accuracy, a high-end spectrum analyzer and oscilloscope for signal measurements, and mobile temperature sensors to monitor the rack equipment.

    A fish-eye video camera incorporating onscreen GPS timing and positioning performs continuous recording of its surroundings — to throw light on high buildings, trees, or other factors that might affect results.

    Internal and external generators yield up to 5 kilowatts to keep everything running — sufficient power to supply two typical European households.

    “The challenge was to fit in all the equipment and provide the necessary power and air conditioning, while still weighing less than 3.5 tonnes,” said Thomas Prechtl of Joanneum Research. “Exceeding this weight would have meant drivers would have needed a special license, and potentially limited its operations in some European nations.”

  • Connected Car Biggest MWC News, 2G to Retire

    Janice Partyka
    Janice Partyka

    It’s a streak. The Connected Car was yet again the most exciting emerging technology in the room, this time at the Mobile World Congress (MWC). The connected car service includes navigation, infotainment and location offerings. The big news in this sphere has come from General Motors, but more about that later. Do you remember the death of cellular digital packet data (CDPD)? Now it’s 2G’s turn. The 2G network used by many asset M2M tracking devices is going away. And Amazon is getting in Google’s face with a giant, well-oiled mobile ad network.

    Beginning with 2015 car models, AT&T will replace Verizon Wireless as GM’s communications partner. Next year, GM plans to install AT&T LTE modems into many of its vehicles and Verizon will be the network behind GM’s OnStar service. The new modems will enable richer, faster content, including streaming video and radio.

    The Connected Car squabbles. Should in-vehicle connectivity be controlled by a smartphone or by an embedded device? There are arguments on both sides. Ford’s forward-thinking connectivity choices have helped elevate what was a dowdy brand. “The last thing we want to do is take this [smartphone] thing that updates every 12-18 months and embed it into a car that has a lifecycle of at least 10 years,” asserted Doug VanDagens of Ford Motor Company. “Users are already paying for the data connection on their phone, and so they shouldn’t be assessed another fee for their car to access a network.” On the flip side, Glenn Lurie of AT&T raised concerns about software updates in a smartphone tethered scenario, in which a user might have to pay for data charges incurred by software updates that auto makers push to vehicles.

    Vast market. No matter the approach, the connected car is a huge market opportunity. By 2020, Machina Research predicts that 90 percent of new passenger cars will have some sort of a connectivity platform and the market will reach $600 billion. There are concerns that in-vehicle service offerings may be too complex and could delay uptake. Drivers will want to pay one vendor for in-vehicle services and have pricing and billing options that are not complex.

    Prepare for the death of 2G. AT&T plans to shut down its 2G networks by 2017. Verizon is planning to shut down its 2G and 3G EV-DO by 2021. The majority of small enterprises that track assets use 2G GPS modems. Many larger enterprises have been transitioning to 3G (HSPA) in this space. Companies that are considering M2M solutions may want devices that will work long into the future, and as the cutoff date approaches, customers will be increasingly reluctant to make purchases of 2G devices. LTE modems are currently about three times as expensive as 2G modems, which will put a dent in ROI calculations.

    Amazon is joining the game. Amazon is rolling out a mobile ad network juggernaut. The mobile ads API, now in beta, enables third-party developers to integrate advertising into Android games and applications. Ad targeting options include GPS coordinates, gender and product floor prices. Android developers have struggled to make money through Google’s own storefront. The Amazon App store for Android has proven lucrative. For every $1 generated by Apple’s App Store for iOS, Amazon generates an average of $.89 per user and Google Play generates just $.23 per user, reports Flurry. Apple has been laying the golden egg, but Amazon knows how to sell and just may surpass Apple.

    It’s smartphones. It has finally happened. This year, worldwide shipments of smartphones will squeak by feature phones shipments, predicts analyst firms IHS iSuppli and IDC. Falling smartphone prices and the rise of LTE networks have contributed to the growth in smartphone adoption.

    Who were we talking about? Lissted analyzed more than 7,000 tweets about the Mobile World Congress sent by 619 journalists and bloggers and 419 media outlets. Nokia was tweeted about more than any other company, followed by Samsung and Android. Who will lead the hashtag race at CTIA?

    Contact: [email protected]

     

  • Broadcom Introduces Femtocell Chip to Integrate RF and Baseband Modem

    Broadcom Corporation introduced at the Mobile World Congress a highly integrated digital baseband processor and RF transceiver designed for 3G femtocell residential access points, the BCM61630 systems on chip. The Mobile World Congress is being held in Barcelona, Spain, this week.

    The new devices integrate a multiband CMOS RF transceiver with GPS and full-time sniffing capability while maintaining software compatibility with all previous Broadcom WCDMA physical layer and backhauling interface architectures.

    With the new chips, mobile operator OEMs and ODMs have a powerful, low-cost, power efficient device to support small cell strategies and meet growing mobile traffic demands. Embedding a high-speed CPU and Broadcom’s Layer 1 modem and peripherals, these devices provide a complete low-power single-chip solution for residential and small enterprise 3G small cell deployments, the company said.

    “As on-the-go content consumption continues to drive traffic growth, mobile operators must meet consumers’ increasing demand for higher bandwidth without sacrificing quality of service,” said Greg Fischer, Broadcom’s vice president and general manager for Broadband Carrier Access. “Broadcom’s BCM61630 SoCs deliver a low-power, cost-efficient device for residential small cells to leverage existing mobile infrastructure and deliver faster data speeds through a smaller form factor.”

  • Ruckus Wireless Offers Wi-Fi Solutions for Rising Data Demands

    Ruckus Wireless, Inc. today outlined its SmartCell architecture for creating carrier class Wi-Fi networks to deal with the densification challenge sweeping the industry. Built on its SmartCell Architecture, Ruckus unveiled a wide range of new carrier-class Smart Wi-Fi products, including the Ruckus ZoneFlex 7782 family, which integrates a GPS receiver. The announcement came at the Mobile World Congress being held in Barcelona, Spain, this week.

    The rapid growth of mobile data services, driven by smartphones, laptops, and tablets has accelerated data-traffic growth to the point where macro cellular networks are no longer sufficient to meet subscriber demand in many high-density indoor and outdoor settings. While new macro cellular technology, such as long-term evolution (LTE), is being introduced to address this capacity crunch, it will provide only partial relief, as traffic volumes continue to grow faster than operators can economically add capacity, Ruckus said.

    Consequently, mobile operators are rapidly adopting Wi-Fi as an additional radio access network (RAN) option to augment mobile capacity. At the same time, fixed line carriers and multiple system operators (MSOs) are also deploying Wi-Fi for public access to enhance their service offerings, reduce subscriber churn and enter new markets such as managed enterprise wireless LAN (WLAN) services.

    For high-capacity outdoor environments, such as stadiums and other public venues, the Ruckus ZoneFlex 7782 outdoor AP Series is a family of four new, high-capacity Wi-Fi access points designed to give service providers unprecedented capacity and performance. With models supporting omni-directional antennas, 120º sectorized, and 30×30º narrow-beam coverage through integrated internal antennas as well as external antenna options, ZoneFlex 7782 APs offer a combination of high performance and flexibility in a sleek, low profile, light form factor essential for meeting the tight mechanical and aesthetic constraints of deployment outdoors, Ruckus said.

    Each Ruckus ZoneFlex 7982 AP is a dual-band, three stream (3×3:3) 802.11n access point enabled for high throughput approaching 900 Mbps. ZoneFlex 7782 APs with integrated antennas support Ruckus-patented BeamFlex adaptive antenna technology for greater signal gain and interference mitigation. Additionally, the Ruckus ZoneFlex 7782 family integrates a GPS receiver, allowing service providers to begin providing location-based services as well as continuous spectrum monitoring features.

  • Symmetricom Delivers Precise Time to Next-Generation Smart Grid

    Symmetricom, Inc., a precision time and frequency technologies company, today announced a new timing solution that meets the stringent microsecond accuracy requirements of Smart Grid substations. Specifically designed for substation operations, such as wide area measurement systems, traveling wave fault locators and sampled values, the Symmetricom SyncServer SGC-1500 Smart Grid Clock offers power utility companies accurate, secure and reliable timing and synchronization for their mission-critical operations. This means companies like Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) will be able to mitigate outages with real-time monitoring for grid stress, frequency instability, voltage instability and reliability margins.

    The Smart Grid has brought about power technology advancements that fundamentally change substation operations. Power equipment and their data networks are shifting from simple, reactive control and reporting to proactive, real-time management and operations control, making advanced synchronization and timing more critical than ever, according to Symmetricom. The SGC-1500 Smart Grid Clock is designed to address this need, enabling power equipment to operate more efficiently and closer to its operational limits. For example, one microsecond accuracy is required by the phasor measurement unit (PMU) for real-time network situational awareness and overall operational efficiency. Without accurate time stamps, PMU data has limited value. For power utility companies, that translates into enhanced network utilization rates as well as smarter management and mixing of renewable and traditional power sources.

    “Power and utility companies are increasingly looking to source the latest technology innovations in order to modernize their infrastructure,” said Greg Neichin, executive vice president, Cleantech Group. “Over the past three years, we have tracked more than $700 million in venture investment committed to companies developing smart grid products. These are all data-intensive applications that will rely heavily on precise timing and synchronization, as well as more advanced analytics to process these vast streams of new information.”

    “The Smart Grid architecture and related standards require a new approach to timing distribution across the overall network,” said Manish Gupta, vice president of marketing and business development for Symmetricom. “Symmetricom brings extensive experience in delivering precise time to the communications, government, and enterprise markets. Serving the power utility telecom network over the past 10 years, Symmetricom is ideally positioned to meet the emerging timing requirements of the Smart Grid.”

    The SyncServer SGC-1500 meets key requirements of Smart Grid substations, including:

    • Microsecond accuracy and resiliency — referencing GPS satellite signals, the Symmetricom Smart Grid Clock distributes timing with microsecond accuracy over the local area network (LAN) using the IEEE 1588 v2 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) Power Profile or IRIG-B time code.
    • IEC 61850 — the International Electrotechnical Commission’s (IEC) standards for the design of electrical substation automation, which requires microsecond timing to identify and mitigate a potential fault condition in real time. This standard also identifies important electrical hardening requirements for substation environments.
    • NERC CIP ― the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability and security standards for Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP), which calls for high strength security protocols.

    The SyncServer SGC-1500 comes with additional industry leading capabilities such as a built-in IEEE 1588 v2 Telecom Profile input option. This enables the Smart Grid Clock to derive time from the communications wide area network (WAN), thus eliminating the need to have GPS at every substation and PMU. The Rubidium atomic clock option offers holdover capability in the event of GPS disruption. These options result in a highly cost effective and resilient solution for power utilities.

  • TI’s Wi-Link 8Q Provides Wireless Connectivity for Auto Infotainment

    Wireless connectivity is becoming a key feature in automobiles for sharing and viewing content from smartphones and tablets to in-car systems, easy pairing of devices, navigation and replacement of expensive cables for in-car communication. To answer this need, today Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) introduced the WiLink 8Q family of wireless automotive connectivity solutions.

    “GNSS technology combines GPS and GLONASS signals with the on-chip positioning engine producing a more accurate fix of your location, making “urban canyons” non-existent,” according to the TI Behind the Wheel blog. TI is demonstrating WiLink 8Q and other technologies at the Consumer Electronics Show this week in Las Vegas.

    With its multi-radio technology, the WiLink 8Q family reaches new levels of cross platform scalability and delivers advanced features including in-car multimedia streaming video in parallel with Bluetooth hands-free calling and advanced audio distribution profile (A2DP) stereo sound. Additionally, with near field communications (NFC) for easy Wi-Fi and Bluetooth pairing, WiLink 8Q solutions enable an easy connection between a smartphone or tablet and the automobile, providing a seamless user experience, according to TI.

    The WiLink 8Q family is designed for Wi-Fi Certified Miracast operation. With an integrated power amplifier (PA) and complete software reuse across all family members, WiLink 8Q solutions provide a full range of products for wireless automotive infotainment including:

    • Super-combo SoCs with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, NFC, and GNSS support.
    • Combo-connectivity system-on-chips (SoCs) with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support.
    • More integrated combo-connectivity SoCs with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy and NFC.

    “Delivering the familiar experience consumers have with smartphones and the tablets into the automobile to share information and content from drivers’ and passengers’ devices is driving the need for strong wireless connectivity solutions. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC and GNSS have to work together seamlessly as integrated parts of the entire system,” said Mattias Lange, automotive connectivity product line manager, Wireless Connectivity Solutions, TI. “The WiLink 8Q family takes our expertise in wireless connectivity and automotive applications to the next level with support of four different RF technologies on one SoC – a truly integrated approach to automotive infotainment.”

  • National Instruments Launches GPS Time-Stamping and Synchronization Module

     

    National Instruments has announced the NI 9467 GPS synchronization module, which accurately synchronizes a large-scale CompactRIO system with features such as data time-stamping and system clock setting.

    The NI 9467 is one of six new C Series modules designed for NI CompactRIO embedded control systems and NI CompactDAQ modular data acquisition systems. By expanding the C Series platform, NI provides engineers and scientists with new and improved options for a wide variety of embedded control, monitoring and data acquisition applications. Channel counts on the individual modules range from three to 32 channels to accommodate a wide range of system requirements, and the majority of C Series modules work in both the NI CompactDAQ and CompactRIO measurement platforms with no modification.

    “We rely on National Instruments hardware and software to provide the rugged, distributed control we need for our wind turbine system,” said Jonathan C. Berg, mechanical engineer at Sandia National Laboratories. “The site-wide architecture uses NI VeriStand and the NI 9467 GPS module to choreograph all of the data acquisition and control operations.”

    “This is the largest C Series module release in several years, reflecting our ongoing commitment to expanding the NI LabVIEW RIO architecture,” said Jamie Smith, director of industrial embedded marketing at National Instruments. “At NI, we constantly innovate and build upon our systems to help engineers simplify development.”

    Features of the NI 9467 include:

    • Pulse per second (PPS) accuracy of ±100 ns, >99 percent typical
    • SMA female antenna connector type (antenna sold separately)
    • +5 VDC (up to 30 mA) for active GPS antenna
    • Returns stationary global position after self-survey (module does not work for mobile applications)
    • NI CompactRIO support only
    • NI recommends using the NI 9467 with the NI FPGA Timekeeper.
  • Symmetricom Introduces Small Cells Category to SyncWorld Ecosystem Program

    Symmetricom, Inc., today launched a new small cells-focused category within its SyncWorld Ecosystem Program. Developed to support the integration with Symmetricom’s SCr/SCe NTP/ PTP and sGPS SoftClocks and interoperability between Symmetricom Grandmaster clocks and other small cells solutions, the category aims to facilitate validated deployments of timing and synchronization with various small cells products in 3G and 4G/LTE architectures. Current partners in the program include leading small cell players Alcatel-Lucent, Broadcom, Cavium, Contela, CS Corporation, Mindspeed, Node-H, Qualcomm Atheros, and Rakon.

    Small cells are a key component of 3G and 4G architectures as they add capacity to the mobile network and allow service providers the maximum leverage of scarce spectrum resources. Successful HetNet deployments require small cells to synchronize seamlessly with the macro base stations irrespective of backhaul type. Also, small cell design cycles need to be short to meet the fast evolving market needs. SyncWorld brings together all players in the ecosystem including semiconductors, oscillators, software, test equipment and system vendors to drive cost effective and shortened design cycles by enabling architectural harmony and interoperability.

    Analyst firm Infonetics forecasts the global small cell market to grow to $2.1 billion in 2016 as small cells have emerged as a key solution to deliver increased network capacity. Symmetricom has delivered a number of solutions with partners along with the introduction of the industry’s first small cell synchronization solution, SCr/SCe NTP/ PTP and sGPS SoftClocks for residential and enterprise small cells. The small cells segment within the SyncWorld Ecosystem Program will ensure that interoperability needs are met as service providers accelerate their deployment plans.

    “The small cells category represents leaders across the entire value chain,” said Manish Gupta, vice president of marketing and business development for Symmetricom. “Working together, SyncWorld small cell members will be able to give service providers a comprehensive, integrated and simplified solution that is interoperable and supports the specifications required to support 4G/LTE networks.”

    The SyncWorld Ecosystem Program enables vendors to cooperate with the goal of providing complete solutions that interoperate with the most recognized timing and synchronization solution provider in the industry. Vendors that produce silicon, small cell access point, software and oscillators are invited to apply for the program online.

    With solutions deployed globally in more than 150 networks, Symmetricom is committed to partnering with trusted end-to-end technology providers which deploy and maintain networks on behalf of operators.