The European and North American wireless local area network worlds got a little closer last week thanks to Germany-based Systemonic AG, which introduced a baseband processor supporting both the North American standard 802.11a and European equivalent HiperLan2 wireless networking protocol standards on a single chip.
Both standards operate in the 5 GHz frequency band and are said to offer data throughput rates in excess of 50 megabits per second. While both standards are based on the same Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing physical layer, they are not interoperable with each other. To further complicate the issue, a Japanese version of HiperLan2 is not directly compatible with the European version.
“Global [original equipment manufacturers] are demanding a single, flexible platform from which to support the different regional standards for wireless communications,” said Ruediger Stroh, chief executive officer of Systemonic. “They can’t afford the time required to serially design one solution for North America, another for Europe and a third for Japan, not to mention spinning new designs every time a standard evolves.”
Systemonic said the H01 processor is based on a digital signal processor architecture developed specifically to support wireless communications and allows OEMs to use radios from different sources.
“The ability to tailor each class of solutions allows us to make trade-offs at the silicon level that translate into robust solutions for our customers,” said Michael Bolle, vice president of engineering for Systemonic.
While the 802.11a and HiperLan2 standards are not expected to hit the market until early next year, analysts see the move toward integrating the standards as a positive step.
“The market for semiconductor solutions in the wireless LAN market should be a multibillion-dollar market, and it is just getting started,” said Arnab Chanda, senior communications components analyst with Lehman Brothers. “However, we see the regional preferences for protocols as a major factor as this market develops. Companies, like Systemonic that can offer cost-effective solutions that allow OEMs to design protocol-independent products should benefit.”
Systemonic also introduced its HiperSonic reference design platform, including a single-chip, multiprotocol baseband processor, PC Card and PCI-bus media access control in a MIPS processor and a 5 GHz radio frequency front end for OEMs looking to implement the solution. The platform can also be upgraded with firmware downloads, allowing it to adapt to standards changes.
“We’re already working on products that will support three, four or even five different standards at one time,” said Jim Bland, vice president of sales and marketing for Systemonic. “This is a multistandard world.”
While the development platform is already available, Systemonic expects the H01 processor to begin shipping in volume by the fourth quarter.
