West Central Wireless has signed a multi-year agreement with Transaction Network Services (TNS) for a full suite of traditional roaming, clearing, signaling, and messaging solutions, as well as LTE services.

“We have worked with TNS for almost a decade and found their solutions to be high quality, feature-rich and reliable, and their people to be talented, dedicated, and trustworthy. By continuing to use TNS we can offer our subscribers a superior service which includes seamless roaming that covers an extensive list of both domestic and international roaming partners,” West Central Wireless GM Mike Higgins, Jr., commented.

Ampleon announced the launch of a series of LDMOS RF power transistors using its Gen9HV 50 V LDMOS process. These devices are the first to use Ampleon’s latest 50 V process, a node that has been optimized for use in cellular infrastructure applications up to 1 GHz and reportedly delivers greatly increased efficiency and gain. Ampleon said the devices enable more than 57 percent efficiency and 18 dB power gain. Typical applications include use in 4G LTE and NB-IoT base stations and remote radio heads.

Operating over a wide frequency range (450 MHz to 960 MHz), they provide a flexible approach to handling multiple channels with a single amplifier. An example on display during IMS 2017 this week is using a Gen9HV transistor in a low-cost compact power amplifier design covering 720 MHz to 960 MHz that offers efficiency and linearity in addition to multi-band capability.

Keysight Technologies Inc. launched what it said is the industry’s first scalable PXIe microwave signal generator with frequency coverage up to 44 GHz and modulation bandwidth up to 1 GHz for generating complex waveforms used in emerging 5G and aerospace and defense DVT applications.

Exclusive DDS technology with the synthesizer VCO provides improved phase noise performance. When combined with baseband performance, the M9383A PXIe signal generator delivers 1 percent EVM, a critical measure of 5G modulated signal performance, for 800 MHz wide pre-5G waveforms.

Engineers can now create Keysight validated Verizon pre-5G standard (5GTF) compliant waveforms and 5G candidate waveforms, such as 8 x 100 MHz OFDM component carriers (CC), for the PXIe signal generator using Keysight’s Signal Studio or SystemVue software. The software also allows engineers to create custom waveforms for emerging wireless, 5G new radio (5G NR), and aerospace and defense applications.

The M9383A PXIe vector signal generator is integrated in Keysight’s 5G testbed reference solution, which has been adopted by several 5G development teams working across the sub-6 GHz, 28 GHz, and 39 GHz bands.

“Wideband devices introduce new challenges in terms of signal quality, flatness, and calibration,” Keysight Internet Infrastructure Director of Sales and Marketing Ron Harrison said. “Working with key customers, we found the M9383A exhibits the performance and scalability needed for R&D to easily transition to DVT and manufacturing, bringing immediate value in cost of ownership.”

Qorvo, a provider of RF solutions, announced the industry’s first Gallium Nitride on Silicon Carbide (GaN-on-SiC) front-end module (FEM) for the 39 GHz 5G frequency band. The FEM’s design – a small footprint that integrates two powerful, multi-function GaN MMICs – reportedly addresses the challenges faced by telecom equipment manufacturers designing 5G base stations.

The dual-channel QPF4005 is built on Qorvo’s 0.15-micron GaN-on-SiC technology. It integrates two identical, multi-function GaN MMICs into a small footprint, optimized for phased array element spacing at 39 GHz. Each of the MMICs contains a low-noise amplifier, a SPDT switch, and a power amplifier.

In separate announcements this week, Qorvo also announced a new family of 50-volt gallium nitride on silicon carbide (GaN-on-SiC) transistors that it said will improve performance, increase functionality, and accelerate development of mission-critical tactical and public safety radios. The transistors are input-matched for wideband applications and feature a compact footprint, enabling smaller, next-generation communications devices.

The company also launched new Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) filters that significantly expand WiFi range and coverage in smart home and enterprise applications. The products enable the maximum power allowed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band, delivering more capacity and resulting in improved service quality for consumers, organizations, and internet service providers.