S3
Group Announces World’s First Fully Integrated,
Single-Conversion Radio to Be Used in Devices, Transceivers and
Modems Operating off the Iridium Network
S3 Group, announces the availability of the world’s first
fully integrated, single-conversion radio transceiver, to be
used in satellite communications devices, handsets, transceivers
and modems that will operate off the current Iridium® network
and the Iridium NEXT system. Iridium Communications Inc. is
operator of the world’s furthest-reaching communications network
and a vital part of the global communications infrastructure.
Iridium NEXT is the most significant commercial space program
underway today.
The fully integrated, single conversion radio transceiver, represents
a radical innovation from the current dual conversion architectures,
common in the Mobile Satellite Services space. This enables the lowest
form factor and lightest Satellite Transmit and Receive modem in the
world and further enables Iridium to substantially reduce form factor,
power consumption and cost as well as to expedite delivery of products
to market while enabling Iridium’s value added manufacturers (VAMs) and
resellers (VARs) greater flexibility in embedding the Iridium data
modems into their products.
This radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) is designed to be used
in Iridium’s current L band satellite system, as well as Iridium NEXT,
the forthcoming higher data-rate system, and includes a digital
pre-distortion (DPD) algorithm which allows for greater flexibility in
the choice of external critical components in the system.
"S3 Group delivered a working IC design to us for our next-generation
devices, which delivers breakthrough improvements in size and
performance. S3 Group previously delivered a working chipset for the
Iridium 9602 SBD Modem. Their successful track record in the delivery of
complex programs for Iridium made S3 Group a natural choice to develop
the new RF IC for Iridium NEXT terminals,” said Scott Smith, COO,
Iridium. “Their ability to put a multi-disciplined team of engineers
with expertise in System design, RF, analog and digital design as well
as the company’s leading-edge RF and mixed-signal IP portfolio, combined
with program management expertise enables Iridium to stay at the
forefront of the growing M2M market.”
Commenting on S3 Group’s latest success at Iridium, Dermot Barry,
Vice President Semiconductor Solutions at S3 Group said, “S3 Group
continues to offer innovative solutions to our customers. This was a
highly complex, R&D program involving system design and leading edge RF
IC development to which we brought our System Level solution
capabilities, our silicon proven IP portfolio and our RF, analog and
digital IC design skills, to bear. Once again we have proven that we can
address innovative challenges which allow our customers to remain at the
forefront of their markets, all the while reducing project risk and
accelerating time to revenue of our customers’ products. We at S3 Group
are proud of our long-standing relationship and history of innovation
with Iridium and we hope to support further innovative engagements in
the future.”
