PARIS, FRANCE & CUPERTINO, USA: Sequans Communications has introduced the SQN1220, the second chip in its new generation series of 65nm Mobile WiMAX system-on-chip (SOC) solutions.

The new chip features a high level of processing power as needed to support combination voice and data applications and targets manufacturers of voice/data CPE and gateways with a solution that eliminates the need for an external CPU or DSP. The first chip in Sequans' 65nm series, the SQN1210, introduced three months ago, targets mobile applications. Both chips integrate baseband and triple band RF in a single 65nm die in an industry-first achievement that delivers unprecedented high performance, small size, and low cost.

"The SQN1220 provides the additional horsepower needed for CPE and VoIP applications that are currently very high in demand," said Georges Karam, Sequans CEO. "The SQN1220 is a powerful, low cost solution for these applications, enabling significantly reduced BOM as there is no need for an additional processor. Like the SQN1210, the SQN1220 delivers the highest level of integration yet achieved in WiMAX semiconductors."

The SQN1220 is based on state-of-the-art 65nm technology and four years of Sequans' proven field experience. It delivers dramatically reduced power consumption, size and cost over previous generation technology in a tiny 10X10 package.

Besides the extra processing power provided by the embedded network processor to support VoIP and CPE applications, the SQN1220 features Sequans' patent-pending mimoMAX technology that comprises dual transmit channels (2Tx), enabling uplink MIMO, and maximum likelihood MIMO performance for throughput of greater than 40 Mbps with extremely low power consumption.

Uplink MIMO can nearly double cell coverage, and the SQN1220's power consumption is the lowest in the industry at less than 350 mW with fully loaded MIMO traffic.

ODMs adopting Sequans' new chip technology can take advantage of full reuse of Sequans software, S3MAX, which is the most mature software solution in the industry, based on four years of experience running in virtually all WiMAX deployments worldwide. S3MAX includes the entire 802.16e software stack and drivers for all major operating systems.

"We are pleased to make the SQN1220 available to customers today," said Karam. "It is the most powerful solution of its kind in the industry today."