GCT Semiconductor provides WiMAX terminal and femto AP solutions to UQ Communications

SAN JOSE, USA: GCT Semiconductor, a leading supplier of Mobile WiMAX solutions to the global market, announced that GDM7701, a highly integrated baseband system-on-chip (SOC) designed for Femto AP applications, powers the WiMAX low power train repeaters installed by UQ Communications as part of their continued expansion of WiMAX services in Japan.

The train repeaters, consisting of Kyocera’s WiMAX low power repeater and WiMAX-WiFi gateway, provide superior indoor WiMAX and WiFi connectivity to train passengers.

GDM7701 offers a total BOM cost much lower than alternative solutions, enabling low-cost mobile WiMAX Femto AP applications. GDM7701 includes a mobile WiMAX MAC and PHY baseband, high-performance triple-processors, an impressive array of peripherals for connectivity, and supports up to 2x2 MIMO.

The low power train repeaters also include GCT’s GRF7204, a 2.5Ghz WiMAX RF application which provides the mating RF functionality for a complete WiMAX Femto AP solution.

In addition, both the WiMAX low power repeater and WiMAX-WiFi gateway include GCT’s GDM7205, a highly integrated mobile WiMAX single-chip solution which reduces PCB design complexity and offers high performance, low power consumption and small form factor to optimize mobile WiMAX implementation in mobile devices.

“Delivering reliable, high speed WiMAX and WiFi connectivity to train passengers was our target, as part of our continued expansion effort of WiMAX service in Japan,” said Toshikazu Yokai, GM of UQ’s Network Technology Department. ”GCT’s advanced baseband SOC provided a key component in achieving this successful expansion.”

“GCT’s extensive experience and thorough knowledge of wireless communications and WiMAX connectivity were key factors in selecting them as the chip partner for this project,” said Yoshifumi Haga, deputy GM, Corporate Communication Systems Equipment Division of Kyocera.

“GCT provided a key solution to resolving indoor coverage problems associated with thick concrete walls,” said Dr. Kyeongho “KH” Lee, president and CEO of GCT Semiconductor. “Instead of installing costly macro basestations, GCT’s solution allowed UQ Communications to build WiMAX Femto repeaters at a lower cost, providing passengers with high-speed mobile broadband access.”