Skyworks Solutions has made a significant commitment to small cell infrastructure with the announcement of eight, 4 W power amplifiers (PA) for outdoor and indoor small cell base stations. The eight PAs cover the world’s most popular frequency bands and support FDD and TDD LTE, 4.5G, 5G and the recently launched citizen’s broadband radio service (CBRS).
The new PAs, the bands they cover and links to data sheets are listed below:
- 700 to 800 MHz: SKY66296
- 800 to 900 MHz: SKY66295
- 1805 to 1880 MHz: SKY66291
- 1900 to 2000 MHz: SKY66299
- 2000 to 2300 MHz: SKY66294
- 2300 to 2400 MHz: SKY66292
- 2490 to 2690 MHz: SKY66297
- 3400 to 3800 MHz: SKY66293
Power-added efficiency measured at +28 dBm output (8 dB back-off) ranges from a high of 43% for the 700–800 MHz PA to 29% for the 3400–3800 MHz design. The adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) for all members of the family is less than −50 dBc at +28 dBm output, measured with a 20 MHz LTE waveform with 8.5 dB peak-to-average ratio (PAR). Amplifier gain varies by band, ranging from 32.5 dB to 38.5 dB.
The PAs are matched to 50 Ω at input and output and include active biasing circuitry to compensate PA performance for temperature, voltage and process variations. The amplifiers have an on/off function, operate from a single +5 V supply and are assembled in a 5 x 5 mm package.
SpiderCloud Wireless, a supplier of small cell systems, is using the Skyworks PAs in its enterprise LTE radio access network (RAN). SpiderCloud’s customers include Verizon and Vodafone.