Sumitomo Electric Developed WiMAX Remote Radio Head

Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (Tokyo:5802) (ISIN:JP3407400005) has currently succeeded in the development of a WiMAX remote radio head (RRH) capable of transmitting and receiving signals on up to four channels over a wide frequency range from 2.5 to 2.7 GHz.

In recent years, the number of cellular phone and other wireless base stations with a new design scheme has increased. More specifically, a power amplifier is relocated from a base station inside a building to beneath an antenna outside as an independent RRH unit. This unit is linked to a base station by a fiber-optic cable, providing more options for base station placement. Furthermore, locating the amplifier close to an antenna reduces transmission loss, thereby saving a large amount of electricity that would be wasted in a conventional power amplifier.

Today there is an emerging market for the RRH. In response to this trend, Sumitomo Electric has developed an RRH for WiMAX, a high-profile next generation broad band technology, by fully utilizing its original technology accumulated in the cell phone repeater manufacturing and other wireless communications fields. The company is now moving ahead to the mass production of the RRH.

To maximize the effect of the WiMAX, interference of radio waves must be avoided in urban areas with full of antennas, while a single base station needs to provide a wider network coverage in suburban or depopulated regions. Our RRH contributes to more flexible layout of base stations owing to the following features:

About Sumitomo Electric

Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. designs, manufactures and sells optical fiber, cable and components, advanced electronic devices, and automotive parts. Through a successful strategy of research and diversification, Sumitomo Electric has become one of the world’s leading companies at the forefront of the revolution in information and communications. Sumitomo Electric’s world-class research and manufacturing capabilities in optical technology continue to expand and strengthen the product portfolio while maintaining industry leading levels of reliability. The company has operations around the world in more than 30 countries and employs 150,000 people. Sumitomo Electric reported group net sales of $23 billion for the year ended March 2009. http://global-sei.com