Freescale Announces Production-Ready WiMAX Infrastructure Development Platform
Incorporating high performance PowerQUICC communication technology, StarCore digital signal processors, and a field programmable gate array (FPGA), the WiMAX base band platform works together with Media Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) software to provide the performance and programmable processing required for production of WiMAX base station products.
According to In-Stat, the number of fixed WiMAX subscribers worldwide is projected to reach 16 million by 2010, and the number of mobile WiMAX subscribers is expected to range from 15 million to 25 million.
Designed to support both fixed and mobile stations, the WiMAX platform provides the hardware functionality required for a first generation WiMAX IEEE 802.16-2005 mobile base band platform in a single Advanced Mezzanine Card (AMC) form factor.
"The integration of key silicon content combined with Freescale software makes Freescale's new base band channel card offering a comprehensive and flexible WiMAX solution," said Flint Pulskamp, program manager for IDC. "As WiMAX grows into a mainstream technology, this type of platform solution can help take this standard to the next level of adoption among telecommunication infrastructure firms."
The design utilizes a Gigahertz performance MPC8555E PowerQUICC III communication processor built on Power Architecture technology for MAC processing, two quad-core MSC8126 500Mz DSPs based on StarCore technology for Layer 1 PHY processing, and an FPGA for time domain processing. Freescale's QUICC Engine technology enables network termination, and the AMC platform supports a variety of interface technologies including the Gigabit, Serial I/O and Rapid IO interconnect standards.
Software shipped with the WiMAX platform includes CodeWarrior development tools and a SmartDSP-OS RTOS integrated with peripheral device drivers for Freescale's MSC8126 processor. Customers also can leverage enabling software kernels from Freescale for MAC and PHY processing. AMC card design details including schematics and gerber files are available upon request.
The platform is currently on display at this week's IEEE Radio & Wireless Symposium in Room 201-B of the Long Beach Convention Center.
The SPTWIMAXCC1E AMC channel card is available now via Freescale's distribution channel.
SOURCE: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.