Lime Microsystems’ leading-edge LimeSDR has raised the bar for innovation in the market
SANTA CLARA, California — November 29, 2016 — Based on its recent analysis of the software-defined radio (SDR) market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Lime Microsystems with the 2016 Global Technology Innovation Award. Acknowledging the rising importance of programmable radio frequency (RF) in an increasingly software-driven world, Lime Microsystems introduced the LimeSDR, a high-performing SDR that addresses carrier-class requirements.
The LimeSDR stands out from the crowd for its full duplex RF chain. Early adopters have applauded the consistency of its transceiver across an exceptionally wide bandwidth of 100 kilohertz (KHz) to 3.8 gigahertz (GHz). The company achieves this by combining its LMS7002M transceiver chip with Altera’s Cyclone IV Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) for some of the physical layer processing. Altera has been an investor in Lime Microsystems and strategic partner since 2014 and has contributed to the LimeSDR crowd-funding campaign.
LimeSDR’s reference board supports 2G, code division multiple access (CDMA), high speed packet access (HSPA), and long-term evolution (LTE) in all regional bands as well as Wi-Fi, LoRa, ZigBee, and Bluetooth. LimeSDR is programmed through a USB 3.0 IP connection, and the host drive architecture includes the Lime Suite (a software for interoperability with other applications) and SoapySDR (an abstraction layer for interoperability with alternative SDR hardware). Competing reference boards match some of LimeSDR’s specifications; however, none offer the combination of frequency range and open source hardware design and software. In fact, other SDR brands sometimes use Lime Microsystems’ transceiver chips.
“LimeSDR’s value proposition also gets a boost from app-store functionality. For instance, Canonical’s Snappy Ubuntu Core, a lightweight Linux distribution, allows developers to download technology stacks and package their own protocols,” said Frost & Sullivan Research Director, Adrian Drozd. “The LimeSDR offers developers unprecedented levels of flexibility, quality, openness, and affordability in radio access networks.”
Lime Microsystems’ business model for SDR relies on the rapid adoption of its products. At this early stage, the company is focused on driving developer activity by making products available at compelling prices. Another initiative to drive scale is its certification program, which includes 10 LimeSDRs with cases, antennae, and software as well as a day of training for up to 10 people at Lime Microsystems’ head office in Guildford, United Kingdom.
“Lime Microsystems recognizes the importance of developers experimenting with SDR at a time when many Internet of Things initiatives and platform owners are competing for their attention,” noted Drozd. “Even though its traditional business is customisable, the company has championed the open source movement.”
The company recently released OpenCellular, a small hardware device that can be mounted on a tree or lamppost to deliver 2G, Wi-Fi, or LTE. The open source design will be available to suppliers, including local entrepreneurs, as an SDR and a system-on-a-chip (SoC).
Lime Microsystems’ wide range of customers and end users includes application developers and device makers, network operators, military and emergency services, system integrators, test and measurement vendors, network equipment providers (NEP), and a new breed of telecom enterprises. The company’s steadfast commitment to technology innovation and its ability to serve a diverse customer base have positioned it ahead of the competition, driving future business value.
Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated uniqueness in developing and leveraging new technologies that significantly influence both the functionality and the customer value of its products and applications. The award lauds the recipient’s focus on innovation, its relevance to the industry, and its impact on brand perception.
Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.
About Lime Microsystems
Lime Microsystems is the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of field programmable RF transceivers. The company’s software configurable chips can run any mobile standard and any mobile frequency and have been used in a vast array of systems including mobile base stations and small cells, SDR platforms, indoor navigation and machine-to-machine communication systems.
Further information is available at www.limemicro.com
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