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    Picocom unveils new 5G NR small cell system on a chip for Open RAN

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    Gives telco partners more options for building open networks

    Open RAN specialist Picocom has launched a new system on a chip, the PC802 SoC, for building 5G New Radio (NR) open small cell products that adhere to the 3GPP approved standard for radio access technology (RAT).

    Picocom has been in development for three years with this product, which sets out to give system builders a low power option for building inclusive radio access networks, (RANs) by creating components with an energy efficient system on a chip. 

    All inclusive, less consumptive 

    The UK-based manufacturer claims the PC802 is the world’s first 4G-5G hybrid device for small cells that can integrate Open RAN (Radio Access Networks) standards. It supports all disaggregated 5G small cell systems, including indoor residential, enterprise and industrial networks, neutral host networks and outdoor networks.

    It’s good for the industry, and Open RAN in particular, if independent minded manufacturers can challenge the hegemony of big vendors, according to analyst Caroline Gabriel, founder and research director at Rethink Research. Disruptors are needed to create the technology that systems integrators want and this widens their options, said Gabriel.

    System on a chip

    “The big vendors design their own chips optimised for performance, power and cost. A disruptive Open RAN ecosystem needs innovative chips to compete with this, so it’s good see Picocom coming to market with optimised, flexible silicon,” said Gabriel.

    By adapting silicon power Open RAN Picocom is hitting the ‘sweet spot’ for the system builder, giving them the optimum compromise between power and output, according to Oliver Davies, Picocom’s marketing VP. Judging by the pre-launch interest in PC802 and positive feedback on its specification: “it’s clear that Open RAN needs optimised silicon and the PC802 SoC delivers,” Davies said.

    Optimum performance, power and cost 

    The new system is a culmination of three years’ work by Picocom, according to Peter Claydon, President of Picocom, which will deliver product to its lead customers before the end of the year. The PC802 will appear in end-products as field trials progress in the next twelve months.

    The PC802 was designed to be a physical layer system on a chip (PHY SoC) for 5G NR/LTE small cell disaggregated and integrated RAN system that can support 4G. 

    Disaggregated small cells

    In order to get the best out of disaggregated small cells it uses the Small Cell Forum’s FAPI protocol to communicate with and provide physical layer services to the MAC. It has an integrated O-RAN Alliance Open Fronthaul interface to connect and communicate with Open RAN remote) radio units and JESD204B interfaces to synchronise easily with radio transceivers.

    These are the full technical details. The bottom line, according to rethink analyst Gabriel, is that this alternative chip design is a useful addition to the Open RAN ‘ecosystem’.