Altera and Escape Communications’
Microwave Modem Solution
Altera and Escape Communications have partnered to provide a turnkey scalable solution suite for microwave and
millimeter-wave backhaul and fronthaul applications based on Altera’s Cyclone V and Arria V FPGAs with Escape’s
microwave modem IP. The modem IP features hitless Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM), Forward Error
Correction (FEC), adaptive equalization, and a complete field-proven radio management software stack. When
combined with Altera’s standard IP blocks, SOC devices featuring dual ARM-9 cores, and MEF2.0 certified switch IP,
the modem solution provides a complete single-chip mobile backhaul solution that can be scaled to meet a wide range
of link capacities supporting megabits to multi-gigabit data rates. The microwave modem solution meets system
requirements of traditional microwave backhaul applications and emerging millimeter-wave applications in E and V
bands. For example, an E-band link operating in a 1 GHz bandwidth can provide capacities exceeding 5Gbps enabling
operators to meet the rapidly evolving backhaul and fronthaul requirements of LTE and LTE-A networks.
System Block Diagram Including Modem Solution and Optional MEF2.0 Ethernet Switch
Altera Cyclone V / Arria V
MEF 2.0
Switch
Scalable
MODEM
Packet
Processor
Traffic
Manager
Buffer
Manager
Digital TX
TX DAC
Modem
LVDS /
JESD204
DAC
FEC
TX Filter
ACM
TX Gain
MUX
Monitor
and Control
Digital RX
RX ADC
LVDS /
JESD204
ADC
RX Filter
SoC HPS
Altera IP
+
DAC
TDM
Ethernet
TX DAC
RF / μwave Block
Host
Interface
Escape IP
RX ADC
RF / μwave Block
+
ADC
RX AGC
Optional
Altera IP
The modem operates from QPSK to 4096 QAM and from 3.5 MHz to 1 GHz RF bandwidth and is scalable with
customers selecting the best FPGA for the application. iLower capacity systems could use the Cyclone V FPGA while
higher capacities the Arria V FPGA. Ultra high-capacities could use the Stratix V or upcoming Arria 10 devices.
Typical FPGA Device Family Used as a Function of Modulation Type and Bandwidth
4096 QAM
2048 QAM
Arria V
1024 QAM
Stratix V / Arria 10
Mod Type
512 QAM
256 QAM
Cyclone V
128 QAM
64 QAM
Arria V
32 QAM
16 QAM
QPSK
28 MHz
56 MHz
112 MHz
250 MHz
500 MHz
1 GHz
Bandwidth
Altera offers MEF 2.0 certified switch based on Altera’s Triple-Speed Ethernet MegaCore function providing > 5Gbps capacity.
Altera Ethernet switch IP when incorporated with the Escape modem IP solution provides a single chip mobile backhaul solution.
Key Modem Features
Key FPGA / Altera IP Features
• QPSK to 4096 QAM
• Scalable from Cyclone V to Arria V and Stratix V
• 3.5 MHz to 1 GHz BW
• ARM Hard Processor System (HPS)
• Hitless Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM)
• JESD204B and LVDS data converter support
• Standard and Enhanced Forward Error Correction (FEC)
• Carrier grade Ethernet Switch MEF 2.0 available including
• Cross-polarization cancellation (XPIC)
– > 5Gbps Capacity
• Adaptive equalization
– Full L2 control protocol handling as specified by MEF
• SYNC-E and IEEE 1588V2 support
– 1588V2 support
• Configurable phase noise and phase hit mitigation
– Sync E support
• Frequency tracking
– TDM interface
• IQ imbalance compensation
– XAUI Interface
• Complete field-proven radio management software stack
– HTML GUI
– SNMP client
– Extensive diagnostics application
– Applications, libraries, and drivers
Want to Know More?
Visit our website or call your local Altera sales representative
today to learn more about how Altera FPGAs can help you
enable your microwave backhaul.
www.altera.com/end-markets/microwave-backhaul
Altera Corporation
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SS-1059-1.0