Qualcomm’s march toward 1000x data challenge just got a shot in the arm—the FSM99xx family of chipsets. This expands our small cell portfolio and brings our vision of more efficient and cost-effective small cells one step closer.
To increase small cell density, boosting network capacity through operator-deployed metro and picocells is the logical first step. These small cells add both 3G and 4G capacity where needed the most, be it busy urban hotspots, large shopping malls, stadiums, etc. And that’s exactly where our highly integrated FSM99xx chipsets are targeted. They offer one of the industry’s most comprehensive functionalities—combining 3G and 4G, with an option for next-gen 802.11ac Wi-Fi, plus a whole slew of advanced features—in a scalable, extremely power efficient package.
With our new multimode solutions, we are one step closer to our goal of making small cells easier and more cost-effective to build, deploy, and manage.
I know that is quite a claim. Let me explain with specifics: Qualcomm’s FSM99xx solution combines our industry-leading LTE and HSPA+ modems, a quad-core Krait processor, location solutions (GNSS), and a suite of self-organizing network (SON) techniques. Plus, it can host 802.11ac (and 11n) Wi-Fi and supports PasspointTM(Hotspot 2.0) which is designed to enable seamless mobility between 3G/4G and Wi-Fi networks. Such high-level of integration means smaller circuit board footprint, low-cost and compact products.
Also, power is a very important part of bringing down small cell costs, and the FSM99xx is designed to be very power efficient. You might wonder why that matters. Well, first of all, greener is better! Second, low power consumption means, in the long run, lower energy bills for enterprises and operators who deploy small cells. Also, small cells mounted on lamp posts and such must have a back-up battery in case of power failures—and who knows how to make batteries last longer than Qualcomm? The power efficiency comes from two components: unique RF linearization techniques that reduce PA power consumption, and our 28nm Krait processor (which is part of the SnapdragonTM platform). Krait is designed to provide processing power that is more than capable of running the wireless connectivity functions, offering flexibility for OEM and operators to integrate their own programs/applications.
FSM99xx is also highly scalable, which means it is suitable for small cells of relatively lower capacity (e.g., 32 users) for enterprises as well as high capacity (128 users) metro cells for scenarios like hotspots on lamp posts, and anything in between.
Most importantly, FSM99xx and our other small cell solutions benefit from Qualcomm’s deep understanding and unparalleled expertise in developing and standardizing 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi and the other associated technologies integrated into it.
So, when is FSM99xx available? We are excited to bring them in, and expect to sample them this fall, with commercial products coming in 2014. I know waiting is hard, but sometimes, wait is worth it! Meanwhile, you can read up on our small cell vision and for small cell product details.
