AirHop Communications and NetLogic Microsystems Announce Collaboration to Pursue Small-Cell Heterogeneous 3G and 4G/LTE Networks

Reference Designs Address Key Deployment Issues for 3G and 4G/LTE Enterprise Femtocell, Picocell and Microcell Basestations in Radio Access Networks

CTIA 2010 

LAS VEGAS – March 23, 2010 – AirHop Communications, the leader in software enabling the next wave of the mobile internet, and NetLogic Microsystems, Inc. [NASDAQ: NETL], a worldwide leader in high-performance intelligent semiconductor solutions for next-generation Internet networks, today announced a collaboration to develop reference designs for small cell heterogeneous 3G and 4G/LTE mobile networks.  Powered by NetLogic Microsystems’ industry-leading multi-core, multi-threaded processors, these reference designs will highlight the capabilities of AirHop’s Evolved Self-Organizing Network (eSON™) technology to manage interference and optimize spectrum reuse in multi-layer wireless network environments.  The first reference design demonstrates the innovative eSON technology running on NetLogic Microsystems’ market-leading multi-core, multi-threaded XLR® processor in a multi-basestation configuration within a simulated RF environment, and is currently being shown at CTIA 2010 in Las Vegas from March 23-25, 2010 (Meeting Room MR-343).  

“Mobile broadband traffic is exploding.  Unfortunately the available spectrum to support it is finite,” indicated Peter Jarich, Service Director with Current Analysis.  “LTE or the expansion of macrocell footprints alone won’t solve this problem.  Instead, operators will need to look to new network architectures and embrace small cells in order to ensure quality of user experience.  With the adoption of small cell architectures, however, comes the need for innovative technology to address interference and spectrum reuse issues associated with heterogeneous deployments.  These issues can degrade capacity as well as quality of service and perhaps more onerously, have the potential to generate excessive customer support calls.”

The reference design being showcased at CTIA 2010 combines AirHop’s eSON software with Trillium® LTE software from Continuous Computing, both running on NetLogic Microsystems’ multi-core, multi-threaded XLR532 processor with 32 virtual CPUs.  This scalable solution can be adapted to address a wide range of eSON-enabled equipment, from basestations requiring dedicated processors to server-based applications where multiple basestations could be controlled from a single multi-threaded processor.

“This collaboration with AirHop demonstrates our commitment to deliver best-in-class solutions for our mobile infrastructure OEM customers who are developing next-generation LTE equipment,” said Dilip Ramachandran, Sr. Director of Marketing, Multi-Core Processor Products at NetLogic Microsystems.  “These eSON reference designs will enable our OEM customers to more rapidly evaluate, develop and deploy next-generation RAN equipment with advanced interference and spectrum management capabilities.  We are excited to be the silicon vendor powering AirHop Communications’ innovative eSON technology, and are proud to add them to our expanding ecosystem of solution partners.”

“AirHop has been developing solutions for operators to address interference and spectrum reuse in the small cell environment since 2007,” added Garrett Choi, Chief Operating Officer at AirHop Communications.  “Our eSON technology enables the wide-scale deployment of small cell basestations in heterogeneous environments, including macrocell basestations sharing the same spectrum, and NetLogic Microsystems’ multi-core, multi-threaded processors are a perfect fit for our software.  NetLogic Microsystems is well-positioned to serve our target customers, and we look forward to benefiting from their strong processor roadmap.”

About NetLogic Microsystems
NetLogic Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NETL) is a worldwide leader in high-performance intelligent semiconductor solutions that are powering next-generation Internet networks.  NetLogic Microsystems’ best-in-class products perform highly differentiated tasks of accelerating complex network traffic to significantly enhance the performance and functionality of advanced 3G/4G mobile wireless infrastructure, data center, enterprise, metro Ethernet, edge and core infrastructure networks.  NetLogic Microsystems’ market-leading product portfolio includes high-performance multi-core processors, knowledge-based processors, content processors, network search engines, ultra low-power embedded processors and high-speed 10/40/100 Gigabit Ethernet PHY solutions.  These products are designed into high-performance systems such as switches, routers, wireless base stations, security appliances, networked storage appliances, service gateways and connected media devices offered by leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).  NetLogic Microsystems is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has offices and design centers throughout North America, Asia and Europe.  For more information about products offered by NetLogic Microsystems, call +1-650-961-6676 or visit the NetLogic Microsystems Web site at http://www.netlogicmicro.com.

NetLogic Microsystems and the NetLogic Microsystems logo are trademarks of NetLogic Microsystems, Inc.  XLR is a registered trademark of NetLogic Microsystems, Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

About AirHop Communications
Founded in 2007, AirHop provides wireless infrastructure software solutions critical to the next wave of the Mobile Internet. AirHop’s eSON™ (evolved Self-Organized Networking) software is the first solution that solves the installation, operation and performance challenges of multi-layer, small cell deployments. eSON is available now for demonstration to customers and partners. AirHop is privately-held and based in San Diego, CA. For more information, please visit www.airhopcomm.com.