picoChip announced that the first public demonstration of its PC8808 TD-SCDMA femtocell software reference design in China marks its general availability in the market. At the same time, picoChip revealed Digimoc, a Chinese solution provider of femtocells, as its first publicly disclosed TD-SCDMA customer. Digimoc is using picoChip's PC202 device and PHY software reference design in its femtocell product.
picoChip’s PC8808 TD-SCDMA femtocell software reference design was developed in China at picoChip’s Beijing design center. TD-SCDMA is the third major 3G standard, and launched during the Olympics this summer. picoChip now powers all three 3G standards families: WCDMA (HSPA) through the picoChip PC8208/8209 reference designs; cdma2000/EvDO in partnership with GWT; and TD-SCDMA with the PC8808 reference design. Earlier this year, the company revealed details of its second-generation PC3xx single-chip femtocell SoCs, and announced the industry’s first LTE femtocell (“Home eNodeB”).
Yang Hua, the secretary general of TD-SCDMA Industry Alliance, previously stated, “Femtocells are an important part of the TD-SCDMA ecosystem, and an essential part of operator strategy, particularly as we evolve to TD-SCDMA LTE. picoChip's achievement significantly pushes the TD-SCDMA industry forward.”
Speaking at 3G in China Global Summit, picoChip’s VP marketing, Rupert Baines, added, “TD-SCDMA deployments can benefit by taking advantage of the new capabilities enabled by femtocells. This 3G China femtocell demonstration aims to support that interest and deployment.”
The PC8808 reference design supports HSDPA and is the industry’s lowest cost complete solution. The single-chip PC202-based platform integrates both Node B and RNC protocol stack, and can easily integrate back into the core network using a number of different architectures including IMS, Iu-h or UMA. The design is software-defined and delivers baseband complete with upper layer software stacks. It is based on the same architecture as the picoChip PC8208/HSDPA and 8209/HSUPA WCDMA platforms. Key factors in Digimoc’s decision to use picoChip technology was its expertise across all 3G platforms, its prominent femtocell reputation and the company’s easily programmable multi-core processor architecture, coupled with a shared platform with WCDMA – speeding time to market. The picoChip software and picoArray devices used by Digimoc support all TD-SCDMA networks, including carrier class macrocell networks. picoChip will continuously provide full support as Digimoc develops its TD-SCDMA Femtocell product.
“During almost 18 months of communication and complete evaluation of the PC202, Digimoc concluded that picoChip’s differentiated product offering is one of the right choices for TD-SCDMA femto product development,” said Li Jun CEO at Digimoc. “It is valuable for Digimoc and other TD–SCDMA femto product developers to share the experience of femtocell market development, product concept development and femtocell solution business modeling. Digimoc appreciates that picoChip has been providing professional support with a highly cooperative attitude.”
The Digimoc/picoChip technology partnership further highlights picoChip’s commitment to the Chinese market. picoChip sees this commitment as a critical aspect of its business, commented Guillaume d'Eyssautier, picoChip’s president and CEO. “picoChip wholeheartedly welcomes Digimoc as a customer. picoChip's joint ventures with its Chinese partners, and its commitment to the region with local teams and infrastructure, are a key aspect of its business. It is essential that picoChip continues to support all available wireless markets with its market leading software defined platforms; working with Digimoc on their TD-SCDMA femtocell is a great example.”