picoChip announces new femtocell customers

16th February 2010

ES Admin

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picoChip has announced that Alpha Networks, Argela, Askey, C&S Micro, Contela and Zyxel are the latest customers to use picoChip’s PC302 picoXcell(TM) SoC in HSPA+ femtocell designs. These six new customers bring the total number of manufacturers using the industry-leading picoXcell(TM) solution for femtocells to over 20. Previously disclosed customers include Alcatel Lucent, GWT, ipAccess, Sagem and Ubiquisys, A full range of picoXcell-based end products is on display at picoChip’s booth at Mobile World Congress 2010 (Stand D56, Hall 1).

picoChip pioneered the femtocell SoC market and is currently the only company with products qualified for major carriers' networks and shipping in volume. The market is moving into volume deployment, with ten carriers now offering commercial service and sixty more in trials. picoChip is the dominant supplier in this fast emerging market.

In addition, a number of customers are using picoChip’s semiconductors and software for LTE, TD-SCDMA, GSM and cdma2000 deployments. The company is also shipping in very high volume for WiMAX basestations to a large number of OEMs.

“These recent customer wins help to underline that the femtocell market is gaining real commercial momentum,” commented Nigel Toon, CEO of picoChip. “Some of the largest operators in the world have now introduced femtocell services, including Vodafone in Europe with the SureSignal product, and AT&T in the US. At MWC, the overwhelming majority of femtocell offerings are powered by picoChip. The femtocell market has now reached the tipping point.

Specialist developers and larger OEMs have dominated early femtocell deployments. Visions of a market where femtocells are nearly as inexpensive as WiFi and femto capabilities are integrated into a wide array of home networking gear, however, require the participation of new entrants and ODMs,” noted Peter Jarich, Service Director with Current Analysis. “picoChip’s success with these players delivers a powerful endorsement, highlighting the credibility and completeness of its platform, while suggesting a move towards a reference platform model.”

picoChip’s “Femto wall” at MWC 2010 will showcase the many femtocell designs that are already being powered by picoChip technology, including:

- Alcatel Lucent - HSPA+ femtocell

- Alpha Networks - HSPA+ femtocell

- Argela - HSPA+ femtocell

- Askey - HSPA+ femtocell

- BDI - TD-SCDMA femtocell

- C&S Micro - HSPA+ femtocell

- Contela - HSPA+ femtocell

- GWT - cdma2000 1xRTT/EvDO femtocell

- ip.Access - HSPA+ femtocell

- Sagem - HSPA+ femtocell

- Ubiquisys - HSPA+ femtocell

- Zyxel - HSPA+ femtocell

The PC302 and PC312 picoXcell SoCs are fully released (GA, fully qualified) and shipping in volume.