Infineon, SkyTerra and TerreStar announced the world’s first multi-standard mobile platform based on Infineon’s software-defined-radio (SDR) technology. SkyTerra and TerreStar are both developing next-generation integrated satellite-terrestrial communications networks.
This technology will enable ubiquitous mobile communications coverage from anywhere in North America using mass-market devices costing about the same as terrestrial cellular-only devices. SDR-enabled satellite-terrestrial handsets will operate with multiple cellular and satellite-based communications technologies including GSM, GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA and GMR1-2G/3G.
“Together with our partners we leverage the flexibility and efficiency of our SDR technology into this ‘connected-anywhere’ mobile environment, enabling operators to provide very compelling multi-standard communication devices to even the most demanding end users,” said Ronen Ben-Hamou, Vice President and General Manager of Software Defined Radio mobile platforms in the Wireless Division of Infineon.
“With this agreement, we are taking another significant step toward making combined satellite-terrestrial communications a reality for consumers, enterprise, government and public safety users. We anticipate that this SDR chipset agreement will expand our market opportunities as well as the range of technologies and potential devices that will be satellite-terrestrial capable, providing consumers with additional cost-effective purchase options,” said Drew Caplan, Chief Network Officer for SkyTerra.
To enable satellite connectivity in the SDR platform, Infineon will integrate GMR1-3G technology furnished by Hughes Network Systems, a market leader for mobile satellite solutions.
Infineon’s SDR mobile platform, called XMM SDR 200, requires only one single baseband device, the X-GOLD SDR 20 and one single RF transceiver, a member of Infineon’s SMARTi family. As X-GOLD SDR 20 also includes all power management functions on-chip, less than half the number of key components are needed compared to previous modem solutions. This platform enables satellite-terrestrial terminals in a small form factor comparable to today’s cellular-only mobile phones. The XMM SDR 200 requires only one dedicated chipset for the two distinct standards. First platform samples will be available in Q3 of 2009.
SkyTerra delivers mobile wireless voice and data services primarily for public safety, security, fleet management and asset tracking in the U.S. and Canada. The company’s next-generation integrated satellite-terrestrial communications network is expected to provide seamless, transparent and ubiquitous wireless coverage of the United States and Canada to conventional handsets. When completed, the network will support communications in a variety of market segments, including public safety, homeland security, telematics, transportation and entertainment, by providing a platform for interoperable, user-friendly and feature-rich voice and high-speed data services.
TerreStar plans to offer a satellite terrestrial mobile broadband network that will provide voice, data and video services dedicated to helping solve the critical communication and business continuity challenges faced by government, emergency responders, enterprise businesses and rural communities.