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Most Comprehensive RF Subsystems for 3G and 4G Base Stations

7th September, 2004

US : Skyworks Solutions announced the availability of the industry's most comprehensive RF subsystems for next generation cellular infrastructure equipment and other wireless transceiver applications.

These new solutions -- the first of several wireless conversion transceiver product platforms Skyworks plans to introduce this year -- leverage innovative RF integrated circuit designs that maximize the performance, reliability, cost-efficiency and design simplicity of third and fourth generation (3G and 4G) base station transceivers.

"Skyworks is delivering to base stations and other broadband wireless infrastructure customers proven and advanced technologies honed in the handset market," said Sean Martin, senior director of Infrastructure and Wireless Data at Skyworks. "By providing integrated RF subsystem solutions, we are leveraging our leadership position with technologies such as direct conversion to help base station designers meet the stringent demands of 3G and 4G networks."

With the introduction of its latest DCR(TM) component, the SKY73010 -- a single chip direct quadrature modulator, Skyworks now offers the industry's most extensive direct conversion base transceiver station (BTS) RF subsystem solution. The new modulator complements Skyworks' other industry-leading DCR(TM) BTS building blocks like the direct quadrature demodulator and direct conversion mixer, which are the first products to meet the high linearity requirements of CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, EDGE, TETRA, and 3G base stations. When the new modulator is coupled with the company's other best-in-class products, Skyworks is able to offer DCR(TM) infrastructure subsystem solutions that reduce board size and component count, thereby speeding time-to-market and lowering bill of materials, two capabilities that have been identified by industry analysts as key drivers for recovery of the wireless base station market.

According to a recent IDC study, the base station semiconductor market is now posting healthy growth after several years of sluggishness that resulted from the slowdown in wireless infrastructure spending. IDC reported in June that the market is expected to reach $1.9 billion in 2004 and grow to $2.4 billion by 2008. "Strong OEM-backed standardization activity along with migration to off-the-shelf chip approaches will be the major trends to follow in this segment," said Sean Lavey, program manager at IDC. "We believe further cost reductions delivered at the chip level for key 3G transceiver and power amplifier subsystems will help jumpstart expansion and upgrades to data-enabled cellular networks."

Technical Details

The SKY73010 direct quadrature modulator accepts input frequencies from direct current (DC) to 250 MHz with a broad RF and local oscillator (LO) frequency range of 300 to 2500 MHz. It provides superb broadband noise floor of -155 dBm/Hz, with 35 and 45 dBc carrier and sideband suppression, respectively, at a LO input power of 0 dBm. The SKY73010 is manufactured in a Silicon Germanium BiPolar Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (SiGe BiCMOS) process, and a lead-free 16-pin, 4 x 4 mm, RF land grid array (RFLGA) surface mount package.

Other key building blocks in Skyworks' subsystem platforms include state-of-the-art ultra-linear power amplifier (PA) drivers, high-gain linear PA modules, dual fractional-N synthesizers, and diversity downconverters. Skyworks takes this subsystem approach to the next level by also offering custom module design capabilities, which combine RF/IF receive and transmit functions in single, surface mount, multi-chip modules (MCM), designed to meet specific customer requirements. This design flexibility, combined with in-house manufacturing and test capabilities, reduces time to market and costs associated with more costly ASIC development.

Skyworks' new infrastructure subsystem family is supported and complemented by an extensive portfolio of active and passive discrete components including high-performance switches, LNAs, pin diodes, attenuators, couplers, dielectric resonators and filters. When combined with Skyworks' subsystem solutions, these components offer the unique combination of high linearity, high P1dB, low noise and low cost, and can be used in applications ranging from base stations, satellite transceivers and wireless routers to wireless local loop, industrial/scientific/medical (ISM) band, telemetry, RFID and other global wireless applications.

Pricing and Availability

Skyworks' SKY73010 direct quadrature modulator is immediately available and priced at $5.25 in quantities of 10,000. Other DCR(TM) subsystems RF building blocks are also available for immediate delivery.

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