ANADIGICS, Inc. has introduced its AWB7220 power amplifier (PA) which is the first product in its line of new products designed to for the 3G and 4G femtocell markets.

 

The new AWB7220 PA is an isolated, fully matched, multi-chip module (MCM) which has been designed and engineered especially for use in femtocell and customer premises equipment (CPE) throughout the world.

 

Femtocells (News - Alert) are capable of enhancing weak or almost nonexistent wireless broadband signals in SOHO environments. It actually connects user’s mobile devices to the network of carriers via a high-speed Internet link. They are inexpensive and easy to install and operate. It is expected that the sales of femtocells will increase rapidly next year.

 

ABI Research (News - Alert) analysts predict that the femtocell market will grow in leaps and bounds to double-digit millions in volume in two years time. ABI Research also said that the prices of femtocells will reduce to levels matching present prices of wireless routers by 2010.

 “We expect cellular-based femtocells to take the baton from UMA- and SiP-based Wi-Fi solutions by 2013, seizing 62 percent of the 103 million unit access point market,” said Stuart Carlaw, vice president and Research Director at ABI.

 

“The femtocell market is an exciting place to be right now,” said Joe Cozzarelli, Director, Wireless Infrastructure and 4G Products, ANADIGICS.

 

He explained that it is actually the convergence between consumer electronics and commercial network infrastructure. ANADIGICS’ proven, core GaAs technology and engineering expertise are used in the design and manufacture of a comprehensive product line. The products will exhibit exceptional linearity, high power, optimized performance and integrated functionality which are required by femtocell equipment designers and manufacturers.

 

The ANADIGICS AWB7220 femtocell product is a 4.5 volt module operating from 2.5 GHz to 2.7 GHz with an extended operational capability between 2.3 GHz and 2.5 GHz. It will be most suitable for OFDMA waveforms like 802.16 WiMAX, delivering 28 dBm (News - Alert) output power with a gain of 30 dB.

 

The power amplifier is manufactured using ANADIGICS proprietary InGaP-Plus technology which offers high reliability, temperature stability and ruggedness. The package is a 7mm x 7mm x 1mm surface mount package which incorporates matching networks optimized for output power, efficiency and linearity in a 50 ohm system.

ANADIGICS, Inc. provides semiconductor solutions suitable for a fast growing broadband wireless and wireline communications market. The company’s products include power amplifiers, tuner integrated circuits, active splitters, line amplifiers, and other components. These components are either sold individually or packaged as integrated radio frequency and front end modules.