To develop reference designs for small-cell heterogeneous 3G and 4G/LTE mobile networks, AirHop Communications and NetLogic (News - Alert) Microsystems, Inc., a maker of high-performance intelligent semiconductor solutions for next-generation Internet networks, have entered into a partnership.

The reference designs, powered by NetLogic Microsystems multi-core, multi-threaded processors, will highlight the capabilities of AirHop’s Evolved Self-Organizing Network technology to manage interference and optimize spectrum reuse in multi-layer wireless network environments.

The innovative eSON technology running on NetLogic Microsystems’ market-leading multi-core, multi-threaded XLR processor in a multi-basestation configuration within a simulated RF environment will be demonstrated by the first reference design. The design is also being shown at CTIA (News - Alert) 2010 in Las Vegas from March 23-25, 2010.

“Mobile broadband traffic is exploding. Unfortunately the available spectrum to support it is finite,” said Peter Jarich, service director with Current Analysis. “LTE (News - Alert) or the expansion of macrocell footprints alone won’t solve this problem. Instead, operators will need to look to new network architectures and embrace small cells in order to ensure quality of user experience. With the adoption of small cell architectures, however, comes the need for innovative technology to address interference and spectrum reuse issues associated with heterogeneous deployments. These issues can degrade capacity as well as quality of service and perhaps more onerously, have the potential to generate excessive customer support calls.”

At CTIA 2010, the reference design being showcased combines AirHop’s eSON software with Trillium LTE software from Continuous Computing (News - Alert), both running on NetLogic Microsystems’ multi-core, multi-threaded XLR532 processor with 32 virtual CPUs.

To address a wide range of eSON-enabled equipment, from base stations requiring dedicated processors to server-based applications where multiple base stations could be controlled from a single multi-threaded processor, this scalable solution can be adapted.

“This collaboration with AirHop demonstrates our commitment to deliver best-in-class solutions for our mobile infrastructure OEM customers who are developing next-generation LTE equipment,” Dilip Ramachandran, Sr. Director of Marketing, Multi-Core Processor (News - Alert) Products at NetLogic Microsystems, said. “These eSON reference designs will enable our OEM customers to more rapidly evaluate, develop and deploy next-generation RAN equipment with advanced interference and spectrum management capabilities. We are excited to be the silicon vendor powering AirHop Communications’ innovative eSON technology, and are proud to add them to our expanding ecosystem of solution partners.”

“AirHop has been developing solutions for operators to address interference and spectrum reuse in the small cell environment since 2007,” Garrett Choi, Chief Operating Officer at AirHop Communications, added. “Our eSON technology enables the wide-scale deployment of small cell basestations in heterogeneous environments, including macrocell basestations sharing the same spectrum, and NetLogic Microsystems’ multi-core, multi-threaded processors are a perfect fit for our software. NetLogic Microsystems is well-positioned to serve our target customers, and we look forward to benefiting from their strong processor roadmap.”