RadioFrame Networks (RFN), which specialises in small footprint, low-cost wireless base stations, has announced plans for its second-generation OmniRadio processor, which it says sets the stage for the company to deliver low-cost, high-functionality femtocell products for Long Term Evolution (LTE) and WiMAX networks.
RadioFrame launched the OmniRadio processor last year as the first silicon solution developed exclusively for the femtocell marketplace. It says that the solution gives wireless carriers a distinct cost advantage and notes that it is the industrys only combined 2G/3G femtocell being marketed today.
RadioFrame is unique with our approach of an upgradeable platform solution that lets a wireless network provider implement femtocells in 2G, 3G and 4G networks and upgrade those same femtocells remotely as requirements for standards change, says RadioFrame CEO Jeff Brown. With our OmniRadio processor, we not only offer wireless carriers a distinct cost advantage, we also offer the only software-based, upgradable femtocell solution in the industry today. We are designing the RadioFrame solution to be both the first and last femtocell product that a carrier would ever need to deploy.
RadioFrames second-generation OmniRadio processor incorporates a wealth of system and software wireless technology and intellectual property developed by RFN to provide solutions that enable triple play voice, media and high-speed data applications. It is based on leading edge silicon technology, using one chip that can support 2G, 3G, LTE and WiMAX networks. OmniRadio is architected as a multi-processor platform, with an advanced ARM core and signal processing capabilities, as well as expansive on-chip memory for superior run-time code execution at all levels. It also incorporates RFNs patented and fielded applications for packet synchronization.
Recently, RadioFrame was named as ABI Researchs most innovative femtocell vendor in its most current vendor matrix. RadioFrame finished atop ABIs innovation category, which judged cost advantages, scalability, plug and play capabilities, service security, solution maturity, multimode cellular support capabilities and future-proof upgrade paths. ABI is one of the leading voices on the femtocell marketplace and has forecasted there will be more than 100 million femtocell users globally by the year 2011.
We are continuing to develop silicon solutions that enable our customers to truly open up the wireless market in the home, says Greg Veintimilla, RadioFrame Vice President of Engineering. We firmly believe that cost sensitivities, coupled with a need for high performance requirements, are mandating highly integrated solutions. LTE and WiMAX will push that envelope even further and we are convinced the OmniRadio II processor makes RadioFrame uniquely positioned to make the most of these opportunities.
RadioFrames picocell and femtocell base stations have been integrated with Nokia Siemens Network (NSN) equipment, and more recently into Oranges wireless network in Europe. The RadioFrame and NSN partnership began in early 2006 with NSN now marketing RadioFrames solutions to mobile network operators throughout the world.