US The platform will be displayed in Paris this week at the Freescale Technology Forum. : Freescale Semiconductor introduces a development platform designed to speed and simplify creation of networking equipment for 3G Long Term Evolution (LTE) and other emerging broadband wireless technologies.

Freescale’s solution is engineered to provide the multi-gigahertz performance, low power operation, and interconnect technologies crucial to support the high data rate air interface and IP packet handling requirements of LTE base stations.

The platform leverages Freescale’s portfolio of microprocessor and DSP technologies to deliver closely coupled Layer 1 and Layer 2 LTE radio processing. The solution combines programmable data plane software with Advanced Mezzanine Cards (AMCs) featuring the MPC8548 PowerQUICC™ III processor and the quad-core MSC8144 StarCore DSP ( see above ). C-based data plane software seamlessly integrates the processors, enabling the advanced features and scheduling algorithms essential to delivering low latency, high throughput LTE systems.

“Even as LTE standards evolve, Freescale is providing a modular, fully programmable platform to help customers jump start product creation and adapt to evolving market requirements,” said Jeff Timbs, marketing director for Freescale’s Networking Systems Division. “This developer-friendly solution provides the flexibility and performance necessary to create networking equipment that enhances end user experiences.”

Based on a low-cost MicroTCA chassis and deploying programmable processors onto modular AMC cards, the platform speeds time-to-market and allows individual software and hardware components to be upgraded as new standards evolve over time.

Base stations based on the platform can be cleanly partitioned into separate network, radio Layer 2, and radio Layer 1 processors, which can each scale according to emerging system performance requirements. The radio processor cards are interconnected via low latency Serial RapidIO® and Gigabit Ethernet schemes – technologies integrated directly by the platform’s PowerQUICC and StarCore DSP processors.

About the MSC8144 and MPC8548E

Based on StarCore technology, the MSC8144 is one of the industry’s highest performing fully programmable DSPs. It combines four StarCore DSP cores running at up to 1 GHz each, and is engineered to provide outstanding processing performance while maintaining competitive cost and power. Freescale's MPC8548E PowerQUICC III communications processor delivers gigahertz-class performance, extreme integration and multiple high-speed interconnects – all at attractive price points. Both devices support a variety of high-speed interconnects including Serial RapidIO technology and on-chip Gigabit Ethernet.

Availability

Initial prototype versions of the platform are available today, and general availability is planned for late Q4 2007.