NXP Rolls Out 5G-Enabler Solutions

Nasdaq-listed NXP Semiconductors N.V. has now made available its new RF Front-End Solutions for 5G infrastructure enablement with immediate effect.  NXP’s portfolio addresses several of the thorniest issues -- power amplifier integration, shrinking board space, and true footprint and pin-compatibility between variants -- involved in creating the cellular infrastructure for massive multiple-input, multiple output (mMIMO) and, by extension, 5G.

mMIMO is an essential foundation for 5G, as it answers the network’s need for a radio frequency (RF) technology capable of handling the huge increase in data usage that 5G is expected to bring. mMIMO meets that challenge by enabling the transmission of far more data over a given frequency spectrum than any current, traditional radio technologies allow.

NXP’s new Front-End Solutions for 5G, unveiled at this week’s International Microwave Symposium (IMS2018), address the significant, critical challenge of creating cost-effective, high performance solutions in the smallest form factor to enable the next generation of active antenna systems (AAS) for cellular infrastructure. Or, to put it more simply: so that everything needed for mMIMO can fit into the smallest box possible.

NXP answers that challenge with a portfolio of highly integrated solutions that feature much smaller form-factors— making them easy and more cost-effective for customers to plug-and-play between all frequency bands and power levels. These devices have been developed to enable its customers to design their systems at the lowest cost possible, said Mario Bokatius, product line director for NXP’s front-end solutions.

The NXP front-end solutions cover the frequency range most critical for early 5G cellular network development, from 2.3 GHz to 5 GHz.

NXP Front-End Solutions for 5G Enablement consist of three different functions critical to creating an RF front-end for mMIMO:

High efficiency power amplifier modules (PAMs) that are fully matched to 50 Ohm at their inputs and outputs, and footprint and pin-compatible to cover a wide range of power levels and frequency bands with the same board design;

Pre-driver amplifier modules with ultralow power consumption address the whole frequency range from 2.3 GHz to 5 GHz, and feature full footprint and pin-compatibility within the family of devices; Receiver front-end modules that feature integrated time division duplex (TDD) switching and low noise amplification (LNA) for signal reception.

Bokatius said that they offer the highest levels of integration without compromising high performance requirements – but this is just the beginning. Moving forward, one can look to NXP for even more integration as the company continues its commitment to providing the industry’s smallest footprint and lowest cost solutions.

NXP leveraged its silicon LDMOS technology to enable the most favorable cost structure for its RF customers. LDMOS has undergone continuous innovation since its introduction decades ago. The ability of LDMOS to consistently deliver ever-increasing levels of high power, with high gain and efficiency, along with its remarkable ruggedness and low heat characteristics, has made it the dominant device technology in RF power amplifier applications from below 1 GHz to 3 GHz. NXP’s LDMOS technology is now extending that leadership into the frequency range up to 5 GHz. LDMOS allows these solutions to deliver high performance, comparable to the performance of non-silicon RF power transistors but with greater reliability and at a lower cost.

Sanjay Gupta, Vice President & India Country Manager, NXP, said that sophisticated RF beam forming and interference mitigation technologies are a need of the hour to achieve India’s goals of 5G. NXP’s leadership and deep wireless communication industry knowledge positions the company well to be an instrumental partner to continue to accomplish these goals and deliver 5G solutions for its customers in India and across the globe.