French-based WiMAX chipmaker Sequans announced this week that they've been picked to supply WiMAX chips to PointRed Telecom, the product design subsidiary of India's Gemini Communications. PointRed recently was awarded 40% of the contract from state-owned operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)for an Indian WiMAX network deployment. WiMAX equipment providers Alvarion and ZTE are also involved. 

Once deployed, BSNL's multi-state network promises to be the largest in the world with 7,000 base stations delivering commercial broadband and e-governance services across several Indian states. 

"The market for WiMAX in India is huge, and we are very pleased to work with PointRed on this network deployment that will bring broadband service to millions - it is a major opportunity to demonstrate the power and utility of WiMAX," said Georges Karam, CEO, Sequans, in an announcement from the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. 

Sequans is providing WiMAX semiconductor solutions to PointRed for several WiMAX devices, including USB dongles, simple WiMAX modems, Wi-Fi/WiMAX/VoIP modems, and outdoor units. 

Sequans' new generation technology, the SQN1200 series of single die WiMAX semiconductor solutions, is based on state-of-the-art 65nm technology. It delivers the highest level of integration yet achieved in the WiMAX industry, resulting in dramatically reduced, size, cost and power consumption, according to company officials. SQN1200 series chips deliver maximum throughput of more than 40 Mbps with extremely low power consumption of less than 350 mW in active mode and less than 0.5 mW in standby. The integrated RF covers all three global WiMAX bands, 2.3, 2.5, and 3.5 GHz and supports both TDD and H-FDD. 

PointRed is a leading wireless product design company and over the last decade has shipped its products to 45 countries for more than 120 mobile operators worldwide. The company is based in Bangalore India.

Source: http://www.wimax.com/commentary/news/wimax_industry_news