Fujitsu Launches Mobile WiMAX Base Station
"Fujitsu continues to develop the right products at the right times," said Berge Ayvazian, chief strategy officer with the Yankee Group. "Their long-time leadership in multiple wireless technologies deployed in Japan has given them the experience and technical ability to develop a very comprehensive and flexible WiMAX product portfolio with a timeline well-aligned to meet both the needs of the U.S. marketplace and the WiMAX Forum certification schedule."
Fujitsu has designed its new base stations with many features to meet the global requirements for mobile WiMAX networks. The base stations consume low levels of power and are easy to install. As a result, mobile WiMAX service providers will be able to build their wireless broadband infrastructure at a lower cost and offer end-users service at more reasonable rates.
Fujitsu plans to provide three base station models designed for the 2.5 GHz and 2.3 GHz frequency bands. These bands have gained global acceptance and constitute a major portion of the worldwide WiMAX market. The first model is the BroadOne WX300 outdoor macrocell base station which is configured as a single, lightweight unit and is designed for wide-area transmission over a radius of almost two miles. The second model, a compact outdoor microcell base station, is designed for transmission over a nearly 1,000 foot radius to fill in areas with a lower concentration of users and remote areas with poor coverage. The third model is an indoor, ultra-compact picocell base station. All base stations will support Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology operating in both Matrix A and B to improve system performance. With these models, Fujitsu will provide mobile broadband solutions for all types of environments and needs.
The BroadOne WX300 outdoor macro base station features a high-output amplifier. It uses a gallium-nitride (GaN) High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) device that was developed based on ultra-high-speed transistor technology invented by Fujitsu. This device is coupled with Fujitsu digital pre-distortion technology to create two high-output power transceivers packaged in a single unit. The adoption of advanced amplifier technology allows the base station to weigh approximately 40 pounds, allowing tower, pole or building top installation by a single person. The low weight combined with a volume of less than one cubic foot makes this unit the world's smallest outdoor macrocell base station in its power class.
Fujitsu has reduced the costs associated with installing and operating base stations, thereby contributing to the global deployment of mobile WiMAX infrastructure. Details of the product will be presented next week at the Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe stand 1J45 in Hall 1 of the GSMA Mobile World Congress 2008 from February 11-14, 2008, in Barcelona, Spain.
"We're very excited to be launching a product significantly lighter and smaller, and with much higher power output than many other products on the market," said Jim Orr, principal network architect at Fujitsu Network Communications. "The initial feedback from customers and industry analysts has been extremely positive because we've been able to leverage years of cutting edge wireless technology and devices and apply our knowledge to mobile WiMAX products."
Fujitsu Network Life Cycle Services are an integral part of the network solution. These services are available to help carriers create and extend their WiMAX footprint by utilizing planning services such as RF engineering, site acquisition and site preparation. When network operators are ready to build their network, Fujitsu offers a full line of deployment services, which include installation and test/turn-up services, as well as backhaul and back-office connectivity provisioning. Carriers can also opt to have Fujitsu monitor and maintain their wireless network with Network Operations Center (NOC) services and provide network statistics so operators can have full visibility to the inner workings of their network. Full maintenance and support is also available 24x7, with rapid deployment of on-site technical assistance personnel and spares management as needed.
With the launch of the BroadOne WX300 mobile WiMAX base station, Fujitsu is unveiling its new BroadOne brand name, which covers an integrated series of base stations and other products for the rapidly emerging wireless broadband market. The BroadOne brand name was chosen to reflect the Fujitsu advanced technologies that will enable wireless networks around the world. By bringing easy-to-use networking to as broad a segment of people as possible, Fujitsu aims to become the number one vendor of wireless networking equipment.
Wireless broadband technology is a key enabler of the connected experience, which will transform the way people live and work. High-speed, high-capacity connectivity to next-generation networks will allow communication to anyone at anytime. Mobile WiMAX is certified by the WiMAX Forum, the WiMAX industry certification authority and provides up to 75 Mbps of bandwidth. Fujitsu is a founder and board-level member of the WiMAX Forum.
SOURCE: Fujitsu Network Communications Inc.