C-band is Here!
With the recent conclusion of the C-band (3.7GHz to 3.98GHz) auctions[1] by the FCC in the US, service providers and MNOs will be keen to start monetizing their investment in the spectrum. Indeed, new radios which can support the full C-band are already being announced by OEMs[2].
Many of these radios which will also support full Open RAN interface standards are being built using Xilinx’s MPSoC and RFSoC technology. By using Xilinx’s Adaptable Digital RF IP OEMs can quickly scale to address these new and demanding radio requirements.
To demonstrate the scalability of the Xilinx silicon and RF IP we have collaborated with Skyworks Inc. to showcase a full C-band 280MHz iBW solution based on Xilinx’s 3rd Generation RFSoC device and the Skyworks SKY66523-11 PA.
Later this year Xilinx will bring the Zynq RFSoC DFE[3] to market. This disruptive technology is a unique combination of programmable logic and custom silicon which will deliver 400MHz of iBW support for a wide range of PA technologies including GaN. The addition of custom silicon will deliver DFE power savings >50% for typical radio use cases. The latest DPD technology will also greatly enhance the PA efficiency delivering an even more significant reduction in the overall radio energy consumption. The good news is that Xilinx’s Digital RF IP will migrate seamlessly to this new platform.
SKY66523-11 30dBm 3.55GHz to 4.2GHz High-Efficiency Power Amplifier from Skyworks
This device is optimized for ACLR compliance and high efficiency supporting at least 280 MHz instantaneous bandwidth in the 3550-4200 MHz frequency range. It is part of the Skyworks family of 5x5 mm small cell high-efficiency power amplifiers.
Features:
- Wide operational frequency range: 3.55 to 4.2GHz
- Wide Instantaneous Bandwidth up to 280MHz
- High efficiency: PAE > 23% @ +30 dBm
- High linearity: < -48 dBc ACLR at 30dBm Pavg after DPD
- High gain: >30dB
- Integrated active bias for temperature and process variation compensation
- Integrated enable on/off function
- Compact (16-pin, 5 x 5 x 1.3 mm) package compatible with a family of
4G and 5G Skyworks PAs
SKY66523-11 Block Diagram
For more information
Footnotes
[1] 1 “Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile: Here are the C-band auction results” LightReading 24th Feb 2021. https://www.lightreading.com/5g/verizon-atandt-t-mobile-here-are-c-band-auction-results-/d/d-id/767661
[2] 2 Casa Systems, Apex 5G Evo Radio, https://www.casa-systems.com/products/cbrs-c-band/
[3] 3 Zynq RFSoC DFE, https://www.xilinx.com/rfsoc-dfe