Qualcomm tells world that its FSM product line will include 5G NR for small cells, multi-gigabit throughput.
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. announced that it will offer a 5G NR version of its 3G and 4G FSM technology for small cells and remote radio heads at the Small Cells World Summit 2018 in London, United Kingdom.
The FSM100xx, to be manufactured in 10nm, will build on Qualcomm’s FSM for 3G and 4G by enabling reuse of software and hardware designs across sub-6 and mmWave products, supporting high-bandwidth, according to Qualcomm’s press release. With multi-gigabit throughput, FSM100xx can be used indoors or outside in MIMO implementations. FMS100xx will also support power over ethernet (PoE). Included is a software defined modem, designed to help OEMs upgrade devices to comply with future 3GPP releases.
Qualcomm says it has built in flexibility for operators and OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) to use various 5G radio access network architectures, such as a virtualized 5G architecture using the cloud or “a more distributed architecture to ease fronthaul requirements.” says the press release. Interface splits between central unit and remote radio head will make it possible.
“[O]ur highly flexible FSM100xx solution [is] capable of supporting a wide range of use case and deployment models, and to support our customers to deliver on the promise of 5G,” said Irvind Ghai, vice president, product management, Qualcomm Atheros, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. in a press statement.
Qualcomm expects its FSM100xx solution will begin sampling in 2019.
“Small cells will play an important role in providing infrastructure for 5G experiences,” Caleb Banke, marketing senior manager for small cells, Qualcomm Technologies, told RCR Wireless News by e-mail. “We feel that making this announcement now will give confidence to the industry that the critical enablers for 5G experiences are falling into place (e.g. both mobile and infrastructure) and also demonstrate that we are putting resources behind our small cell evolution to 5G.”
Some of the products with 4G-version of FSM are the Sprint Magic Box (developed by Airspan) and the Samsung Small Cell Portfolio, mentioned by Qualcomm in a blog about MWC 2018. “MWC 2018 points to an exciting year ahead for the cellular industry and the increasing role of small cells to bring next-gen technologies closer to where they are needed most,” wrote Qualcomm in the blog.
The Small Cell Forum exclusively helps organize the Small Cells World Summit — where Qualcomm announced the news.
Story updated to include response from Qualcomm.
