Interphase, Aricent ally with Mindspeed to create easily scalable 4G basestation platforms using single chip

NEWPORT BEACH, USA: Mindspeed Technologies Inc., a leading supplier of semiconductor solutions for network infrastructure applications, is collaborating with Interphase, a leader in embedded networking and communications solutions, and Aricent a global innovation, technology and services company focused exclusively on communications, on the Interphase iSPAN 36701 Wireless Base Station Advanced Mezzanine Card (AdvancedMC).

Mindspeed's Transcede 4000 baseband processor system-on-chip (SoC) will power the iSPAN 36701, which targets 4G wireless basestation applications. Aricent delivers LTE software running on the Transcede processor as part of the complete iSPAN 36701 LTE reference solution.

“We are very pleased that Interphase has selected the Transcede 4000 baseband processor for their AdvancedMC eNodeB solution,” said Alan Taylor, marketing director for baseband processing solutions at Mindspeed. “The iSPAN 36701, coupled with Aricent’s LTE software stack running on the Transcede 4000 SoC, enables manufacturers of LTE picocells and enterprise femtocells to develop a complete LTE eNodeB application in an industry-standard form factor, rapidly accelerating time to market while significantly reducing system cost.”

Mindspeed’s Transcede processors deliver a new class of high-performance silicon designed to meet the huge increase in basestation computational complexity caused by the migration from a voice-centric 2G/3G mobile network to a data-centric 3G+/4G mobile network. This new class of silicon replaces today’s traditional approach, which combines a complex set of general-purpose digital signal processors (DSPs) plus field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and networking processing units (NPUs).

“Aricent is very excited to broaden our participation in the LTE ecosystem with partners such as Mindspeed and Interphase,” said C.P. Murali, senior vice president at Aricent. “LTE is a key focus area for Aricent and we continue to be recognized in the industry for our advanced LTE frameworks and services offerings for both access and core networks.”

Aricent’s LTE eNodeB reference framework is based on a flexible architecture and is pre-optimized and benchmarked for performance. The reference framework includes Layer 2 (MAC, RLC, PDCP) and Layer 3 (S2AP / X1AP) modules and all transport stacks including evolved GPRS tunneling protocol-user (eGTP-U) and stream control transmission protocol (SCTP). Aricent’s LTE reference framework is integrated with an LTE reference physical layer (PHY) implemented by Mindspeed.

“In selecting the Transcede 4000 baseband processor for the Interphase iSPAN 36701 Wireless Base Station AdvancedMC, we have reduced the size and cost by at least half compared to currently available basestation solutions,” said Marc DeVinney, vice president of engineering at Interphase. “The solution integrates everything that is needed in a wireless basestation, except for the radio, into a very compact form factor. In addition, the LTE reference software from Aricent and Mindspeed will accelerate the time to market for basestation developers by providing an off-the-shelf, integrated solution.”

The iSPAN 36701 is targeted for use in a 4G network element such as an LTE eNodeB or next-generation WiMAX base station. For solution providers seeking a form factor other than AdvancedMC, the underlying technology of the iSPAN 36701 can be easily converted to other small footprint form factors. “We are committed to supporting this LTE reference design, and plan to further enhance and modify it to meet the specific needs of solution providers,” DeVinney added.

Mindspeed’s Transcede family can be used to develop 4G equipment for LTE frequency division duplex (LTE-FDD), LTE time-division duplex (TD-LTE, in China), time-division synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA, in China), and WiMax 802.16d,16e and 16m, as well as 3G wideband code-division multiple access (W-CDMA) NodeB systems.

The Transcede family’s scalable hardware architecture enables the same software to be used for picocells, microcells and macrocells, as well as future low-cost enterprise femtocell designs once industry standards and product requirements solidify.