Agilent Technologies and Sequans Collaborate to Get WiMAX Test Systems to Market

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) and Sequans Communications today announced a collaboration to support the rollout of Mobile WiMAX(r)-compliant equipment in two ways. They will work on pre-validating the Agilent Protocol Conformance Test (PCT) system, and on the speed-optimization of RF power-calibration and production-test systems for both fixed and mobile WiMAX modules.

Sequans is a leading supplier of chipsets for the IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard, on which WiMAX Forum’s mobile profiles are based, as well as for the fixed WiMAX IEEE 802.16-2004 standard. The Agilent PCT system, which is based on Agilent’s E6651A WiMAX test set, is undergoing pre-validation testing at a WiMAX Forum-authorized testing laboratory using mobile terminals that use Sequans’ Mobile WiMAX chips.

“Sequans’ cooperation has allowed us to make great progress with the pre-validation of our PCT,” said Niels Fach, vice president and general manager of Agilent’s Mobile Broadband Division. “Sequans is a very experienced WiMAX chipmaker, and this is evident in our efficient collaboration.”

Sequans’ chips for WiMAX mobile stations (SQN1110 and SQN1130) feature the industry’s highest throughput and lowest power consumption. Sequans’ newest chip, the SQN1130 Wave 2-ready MIMO chip for WiMAX mobile stations, delivers more than 30 Mbps throughput while drawing less than 280 mW of power.

“Agilent’s industry-leading expertise in manufacturing and conformance solutions will benefit our customers greatly in testing and verifying designs,” said Bernard Aboussouan, vice president of marketing at Sequans.

Agilent has also added support for Sequans’ chipsets to its MXZ-1000 WiMAX test system. The system incorporates Agilent’s high-speed MXA Signal Analyzer and MXG Signal Generator, coupled with test automation software and device interfaces, to optimize the speed of WiMAX subscriber station tests in production. With Agilent’s support of Sequans chipsets, modules based on Sequans’ ICs can be calibrated and tested with the greatest speed and efficiency.

“We are working closely with chipset leaders in the WiMAX ecosystem, such as Sequans, to ensure that the MXZ-1000 test system supports the most robust set of chipset APIs for our customers,” said Daniel Mak, general manager for the wireless business at Agilent. “The MXZ-1000 continues to be the best-in-class turnkey solution for high-volume production test of Fixed and Mobile WiMAX modules.”