Satellite-terrestrial mobile platform is SDR-based

Infineon Technologies AG has announced that a multistandard mobile platform has been created based on Infineon-developed SDR technology. The SDR-enabled satellite-terrestrial handsets will operate with multiple cellular and satellite-based communications technologies including GSM, GPRS, Edge, W-CDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA and GMR1-2G/3G.

Infineon's SDR mobile platform, called XMM SDR 200, comprises one baseband device, the X-Gold SDR 20 and one RF transceiver, a member of Infineon's Smarti family. The X-Gold SDR 20 includes power management and enables satellite-terrestrial terminals in a small form factor comparable to today's cellular-only mobile phones. First platform samples will be available in Q3 09, the company said.

Lead customers SkyTerra and TerreStar Networks are both developing integrated satellite-terrestrial communications networks, and the Infineon SDR should enable ubiquitous mobile communications coverage from anywhere in North America using phones that cost about the same terrestrial cellular-only devices.

To enable satellite connectivity in the SDR platform, Infineon will integrate GMR1-3G mobile satellite technology furnished by Hughes Network Systems.

"We are very happy to contribute our innovative SDR technology to this exciting new application of integrated satellite-terrestrial mobile devices in both SkyTerra's and TerreStar's networks," said Ronen Ben-Hamou, general manager of SDR mobile platforms in the wireless division of Infineon, in a statement.

"The Infineon SDR chipset is a tremendous addition to our chipset program and greatly expands the universe of devices that will be satellite-enabled," said Dennis Matheson, chief technology officer at TerreStar, in the same statement. "In addition, the programmable nature of SDR technology allows for feature upgrades via software and shortest-ever turn-around times for next-generation products. We look forward to using this chipset platform to perform additional handset trials on our evolving 4G network."

- Peter Clarke
EE Times Europe