Qualcomm Positions for More Powerful Enterprise Femto Networks

Qualcomm introduced three enterprise Femtocell Station Modem (FSM) chipsets supporting up to 32 active users. These chipsets complement the currently available FSM 3G femtocell chipsets that feature eight user versions targeting the residential market with hardware and software compatibility. The company also announced a Femto-Wi-Fi hardware reference design that integrates these FSM enterprise solutions with Qualcomm Atheros 802.11n Wi-Fi AR9350 and AR9344 access point solutions.


Qualcomm's FSM chipsets support both CDMA2000 and UMTS/HSPA+ network technologies and include a baseband modem, RF, network listen, GPS and an application processor.


Qualcomm is first releasing enterprise FSM chipsets for UMTS and CDMA supporting 16 users. Both the Femto-Wi-Fi integration hardware platform and the CDMA version of the FSM chipset with the expanded 32-user support are scheduled for availability in the second half of 2011.


Qualcomm is featuring "UltraSON" interference and mobility management algorithms, which provide robust wireless coverage while ensuring that the femtocells do not interfere with macrocells while providing hand-off capabilities between macrocells and other femtocells.


The company said that providing increased support for up to 32 active users, its FSM chipset will provide the capability to address larger cell sites, such as metro-femtocells and picocells, allowing more simultaneous users to connect to the femtocell and access cellular networks in challenging environments where reception is poor. The integrated Femto-Wi-Fi reference designs allow operators to create access points that let their enterprise customers connect to both Wi-Fi and cellular networks through a single gateway and coordinate the services delivery via either access technology.


The Qualcomm Atheros AR9350 and AR9344 Wi-Fi SoCs support all modes of 802.11n in both bands and include Ethernet, routing and management functions.
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