MaxLinear introduced a highly integrated SoC optimized for 4G/5G Open Radio Access Network (RAN) radio units (RU).
The new Sierra line is a single-chip platform that flexibly supports major RU applications including traditional macro, massive MIMO, picocell, all-in-one small cells, etc. The design integrates the following sub-systems into a single chip, providing a complete software-programmable radio signal processing engine for Open RUs (O-RU):
RF transceiver supporting up to 8 transmitters, 8 receivers, and 2 feedback receivers Digital Front End (DFE) including DPD, crest factor reduction (CFR), and Passive Intermodulation (PIM) cancellation Low-PHY baseband processor supporting 5G, 4G, and NB-IoT air interfaces O-RAN Alliance Split 7.2x fronthaul interface
“Infrastructure vendors have been waiting for an open-market silicon solution that can enable them to develop O-RUs without compromise on performance or cost,” said Sean Martin, Senior Director of Wireless Infrastructure. “By integrating our highest performance RF and system technologies in Sierra, MaxLinear is empowering these radio vendors to rapidly and cost effectively develop new O-RUs with reduced size, weight, and power consumption.”
