To support mobile WiMAX Wave 2 and MIMO, UK’s picoChip has unwrapped the next version of its WiMAX base-station reference design with a software upgrade. Announced at WiMAX World Europe last month, the new PC8532 WiMAX platform is the only base-station reference design to support WiMAX Wave 2 and IO-MIMO that scales from access point (femtocell) to sophisticated multi-sector carrier macrocells, claimed picoChip. The PC8532 is used for WiMAX certification and has already demonstrated the widest range of interoperability with third-party terminals, according to the supplier.

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"The ability to upgrade our WiMAX base stations by software is fundamental to our strategic market advantage," said Paul Senior, vice president of marketing at Airspan Networks and WiMAX Forum board member. "PicoChip's programmable PHY has been demonstrated to support IOT between systems running WiMAX Forum-Certified 16d, 16e SISO, and 16e Wave 2 MIMO, all from a common hardware platform. This capability allows our customers to deploy WiMAX services today, confident in their ability to migrate to the latest features and performance enhancements as WiMAX evolves."

The PC8532 supports Wave 2 and IO-MIMO in both uplink and downlink. Wave 2 is the latest version of the WiMAX standard, adding increased support for mobility, while MIMO increases data-rate and reliability by simultaneously sending and receiving data by multiple antennas. The 2 x 2 MIMO system used in WiMAX significantly reduces CAPEX and OPEX for carriers, by increasing coverage and data-rate compared to other wireless technologies or to non-MIMO WiMAX, said the manufacturer. As a result, noted picoChip, Wave 2 delivers maximum download and upload transmission speeds of 40 Mbps and 12 Mbps, respectively.