Continuous Computing and picoChip have agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate to produce a comprehensive Long Term Evolution femtocell and picocell reference implementation. The results of the joint work will enable Network Equipment Providers (NEP) to quickly get to market with a variety of small form factor LTE products, including femtocell and picocell base stations. Smaller eNodeB products, such as those based on the MicroTCA form factor, are expected to be important for LTE deployments worldwide.

Executives from picoChip and Continuous Computing believe that their MoU is the industry’s first alliance for LTE femtocells/picocells, which extends from a hardware reference design and physical layer implementation (PHY) all the way up through Layer 2 and Layer 3 LTE protocols.

Dozens of operators across the globe have announced support for LTE and are expected to commence subscriber field trials later this year. Continuous Computing and picoChip are well positioned to bring together the key hardware and software technologies required to enable successful LTE implementation. While each of the constituent LTE products in the joint project is currently available from the two companies today, pre-integrating them into an optimized reference implementation will save NEPs substantial time and money.

“Small form factor LTE products, such as femtocells and picocells, are expected to be critical to LTE deployments worldwide,” said Mike Dagenais, President and CEO of Continuous Computing. “Having standards-compliant, integrated products can significantly compress NEPs’ development timelines, enabling them to accelerate their participation in the burgeoning LTE market and early operator trials.”