Feature Article: Design And Performance Of A UMTS Picocell Front-End Module

By Thomas Knecht, CTS Corporation

The wireless market is expanding with significant growth likely to be in Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA). Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is the third-generation wireless communications standard that is capable of delivering voice and high-speed data using W-CDMA. The UMTS system offers a layered approach to coverage by utilizing macrocells (towers), microcells, picocells, and femtocells. This article presents the design and performance of a new front-end module for the UMTS/W-CDMA picocell market.