Hasselt, Belgium-based wireless fabless semiconductor start-up AsicAhead NV has entered the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) market with its single-chip programmable radio that can be reconfigured in the field to support multiple frequency bands, as well as all currently specified IEEE 802.16e bandwidth configurations. This advanced mobile RFIC – the patent-pending AA1001 – eliminates the need for multiple RFICs and enables WiMAX-connected devices and systems such as Customer Premise Equipment (CPE), wireless data devices and mobile phones to be deployed worldwide. Its small footprint, low power consumption, and significantly lower bill of materials (BOM), make it suitable for mobile devices.

According to the developer, the AA1001’s reprogrammable wideband transceiver overcomes all major challenges faced by WiMAX developers – regional frequency band variation, multiple radio bandwidths and the need for low power. In addition, the AA1001 eliminates the need for expensive surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters and a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO), lowering the overall BOM.

“Our mission is to provide state-of-the-art standard products that can be reconfigured to any company’s specific system requirements, delivering wireless connectivity anywhere, anytime, at any speed,” stated Joan Ceuterick, CEO and co-founder of AsicAhead. “OEMs who have sampled the AA1001 tell us it is the most advanced single-chip WiMAX RF solution available today.”

Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of AsicAhead, Frank Op ‘t Eynde said, “We have maximized the level of integration and flexibility – and all this in standard CMOS. In addition, designing-in the AA1001 for WiMAX applications requires only the customary RF productization skills.”

The RFIC is expected to go into production next quarter.

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