nex-G Collaborates with IBM and Nu Horizons Electronics on WiMAX Base Station Solution

(Business News & Technology News, 4 Jul 2007)

nex-G is collaborating with IBM on the product development of its mobile WiMAX base station, and with Nu Horizons Electronics Asia Pte Ltd to expand the global reach for its WiMAX base station. The collaboration brings together a comprehensive ecosystem of global players for the wireless market, which combines nex-G's expertise in advanced broadband access technologies, IBM's expertise from IBM Global Engineering Solutions, and Nu Horizons' worldwide sales distribution channel.

nex-G's WiMAX base station will be developed using IBM's PowerPC 970-based microprocessor as an external CPU. In addition to meeting nex-G's performance-intensive requirements for its high-end WiMAX base station, IBM's Power PC two-chip solution will enable nex-G with greater design flexibility.

For its business model, nex-G develops, manufactures and markets complete WiMAX base stations through the company's sales channel. In addition, nex-G also supports reference design sales through Nu Horizons Electronics, IBM's distributor for microelectronics products.

nex-G brings a proven, integrated simulation and product development methodology to the development of WiMAX technology. Its engineering team also has a wealth of expertise in system design, simulation, software, advanced signal processing, MAC protocol, and strong partnerships with Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) design partners.

nex-G is also considering developing its next-generation of mesh Wi-Fi base station and other advanced, enterprise-class wireless local area network (WLAN) products based on the IBM PowerPC and ASIC platform. nex-G's solutions are aimed at addressing the critical needs of the carrier and wireless communication markets, which are high throughput and low-power consumption.

"We needed to work with a partner with global reach in both microelectronics and business development, and IBM fits the bill. We chose IBM for a seamless solution across its range of products, which taps on IBM's technology expertise and PowerPC platform for nex-G's high-end WiMAX solutions. In addition, working on IBM's PowerPC platform leverages a major opportunity for nex-G to market a high-end reference design platform through IBM's distributor, Nu Horizons," said Ronnie Persad, nex-G CEO. "Following the WiMAX and Mesh Wi-Fi base stations, Femtocell is the next development focus on nex-G's roadmap. Femtocell offers opportunities for use in homes and small offices and could be deployed as an alternative to Wi-Fi and Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA). IBM has been a technology leader in the ASIC market for many years. It would be a natural step for nex-G to explore the use of IBM's ASIC technology platform for nex-G's Femtocell solution."

"The base station segment of the WiMAX market presents an attractive growth potential for the IBM PowerPC platform. We are pleased to collaborate with nex-G to provide a robust WiMAX infrastructure for enabling mobile Internet access in Singapore," David Faircloth, Vice President, IBM Global Engineering Solutions, Asia Pacific, said. "In addition, the Consumer Premise Equipment (CPE) segment of the WiMAX market offers opportunities for IBM to work with nex-G and other WiMAX chipset designers to leverage IBM's ASIC semiconductor technologies, which are tuned to the needs of the networking and telecommunications market."

"nex-G offers sophisticated experience and design capabilities in WiMAX technology," Wendell Boyd, President of Asia Pacific for Nu Horizons, said. "Through the use of nex-G's reference solutions, customers will benefit from competitive WiMAX solutions and faster time to market."

nex-G
Nu Horizons