Ericsson Chooses Xilinx FPGAS For Broadband Access System
Xilinx(R) FPGAs Enable Remote Configuration Of Ericsson MINI-LINK Broadband Wireless Access System
SAN JOSE, CA--(INTERNET WIRE)--Feb 18, 2002 -- Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ:XLNX) has announced that Ericsson
Transmission & Transport Networks, based in Milan, Italy
has successfully used Xilinx Virtex(R) and Spartan(R)-II
FPGAs to satisfy the cost, time to market and field upgradability
requirements of its MINI-LINK broadband wireless access
system. The MINI-LINK solution includes nine Xilinx FPGAs,
including several Xilinx Virtex devices in the base station
and Spartan-II devices in the radio terminals. By using
Xilinx programmable chips, in lieu of an ASIC, Ericsson
can custom configure its broadband access system to meet
changing requirements throughout the world.
"Broadband access is developing in many different ways throughout
international territories," said Catello Antonio De Rosa,
senior design engineer and FPGA specialist at Ericsson Transmission
& Transport Networks business unit. "Thus MINI-LINK
had to be a flexible solution, developed rapidly and cost-effectively,
and this is where Xilinx FPGA technologies gave us an important
advantage."
"We were able to develop our products quickly and with no
NRE," De Rosa said. "Moreover, the unlimited on-board reprogrammability
of the Virtex devices enabled us to finely tune many system
items, such as modems, with multiple design iterations to
optimize performance. In the field, the ability to download
hardware modifications, function upgrades or new functions
from the base station to each radio terminal across the
air interface also delivers a strong time-in-market advantage.
Finally, the Spartan-II low cost solution allows us to introduce
a cost reduction program for mature radio terminal equipment."
The Ericsson MINI-LINK system delivers up to 37.5 Mbps dynamic
bandwidth using ATM, TDM/TDMA, and FDD technologies for
fixed wireless applications and mobile networks support.
Functions such as fractional E1/T1 and forthcoming native
ATM interfaces will support back haul applications in GSM
and UMTS networks. In fixed wireless applications the MINI-LINK
system supports convergent high speed Internet/Intranet
access, IP services, T1/E1 leased line connections or LAN
bridging supports to the SME and SOHO markets.
"The success that Ericsson has achieved with its MINI-LINK
system demonstrates how Xilinx FPGAs allow telecom equipment
manufacturers to respond quickly and efficiently to changing
market conditions," said Alan Matthews, director of European
market for Xilinx.
MINI-LINK point-to-multipoint is capable of satisfying LMDS
(Local Multipoint Distribution System) needs, providing
the medium for convergence among telecommunication, datacom
and Information Technology systems. Applications include
combined voice/data/IP traffic for small and medium business
communities.
In cellular back haul applications, MINI-LINK represents
a highly scalable approach for linking several BTS to a
BSC unit of a GSM mobile system. Its point-to-multipoint
capability is also applicable to 3G networks to link the
Node B and RNC radio units of UMTS systems for easy and
fast network deployment. Ericsson is currently integrating
this broadband access system into a UMTS system shelf.
The system is in full production, with more than ten commercial
deployments and a further 40 trials world wide. Ericsson
is currently adding a 31 GHz microwave unit for the Chinese
market, and is also developing a native ATM traffic input
port. This will enable a UMTS compliant solution.
Moreover it's ready to deploy to customers a new class of
ATM QoS support, the UBR+, an ATM class of service combining
CBR class for minimum guaranteed cell rate and UBR class
for best effort performance.
About Xilinx Virtex FPGAs
Virtex FPGAs range from 50,000 to 1,000,000 system gates
at clock speeds up to 200 MHz, and include many features
that address system-level design challenges. The Virtex-II
solution is the first embodiment of the Platform FPGA, and
strengthened by strategic alliances with IBM, Wind River
Systems, Conexant, The MathWorks, and other technology leaders.
With densities ranging from 40,000 to 10 million system
gates, Virtex-II solutions are empowered by advanced design
tools that drive time to market advantages through fast
design, powerful synthesis, smart implementation algorithms,
and efficient verification capabilities.
About Xilinx Spartan-II FPGAs
The Xilinx Spartan-II FPGA series was created to offer a
cost-optimized system logic solution by providing the advantages
of fast development-to-production time, advanced system
features, and in-system reprogrammability at competitive
prices.
About Ericsson
Ericsson is shaping the future of Mobile and Broadband Internet
communications through its continuous technology leadership.
Providing innovative solutions in more than 140 countries,
Ericsson is helping to create the most powerful communication
companies in the world.
About Xilinx
Xilinx is the leading supplier of complete programmable
logic solutions, including advanced integrated circuits,
software design tools, predefined system functions delivered
as intellectual property cores, and unparalleled field engineering
support. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in San Jose,
Calif., Xilinx invented the field programmable gate array
(FPGA) and fulfills more than half of the world demand for
these devices today. Xilinx solutions enable customers to
reduce significantly the time required to develop products
for the computer, peripheral, telecommunications, networking,
industrial control, instrumentation, aerospace, defense,
low power portable, and consumer markets. For more information,
visit the Xilinx web site at www.xilinx.com.
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