Powerwave Technologies
Encyclopedia
Powerwave Technologies, Inc. is a global telecommunications corporation, with solutions designed to amplify coverage, capacity and data speed in wireless communications networks. Powerwave supports the ability to access wireless services worldwide by providing wireless infrastructure such as antennas, base station
and coverage systems. Powerwave’s product portfolio covers all major frequency bands and air interfaces
to support customers’ existing wireless networks as well as efforts to deploy next-generation 4G
WiMAX
and LTE
systems.
technology allows billions of users to be connected worldwide and cell phone use continues to increase, particularly in areas such as China
and India. Mobile subscriptions worldwide recently hit the 5 billion mark – and it’s estimated that 50 billion connections will be made by the end of this decade. Portable computers and PDAs have also become a de facto standard tool in business.
Wireless also plays a key role in public safety
. One-third of the 240 million calls made to 911 each year, are from wireless devices. Wireless technology is increasingly used to connect families separated by disaster, assist emergency relief workers with response time and allow health workers to operate in rural areas. Wireless plays a critical role in helping fire, police, medical, security and other emergency service personnel improve communications throughout buildings and other structures for coordinated emergency response.
Without the underlying infrastructure to support wireless networks, wireless technology wouldn't exist. These wireless networks consist of a series of cell sites (also called base stations) that host the antennas and other equipment that is needed to broadcast and receive wireless signals.
s and wireless carriers. Powerwave’s in-building and outdoor Distributed Antenna System
solutions are used in hundreds of public safety and commercial deployments worldwide, including skyscrapers, subways, airports and sports arenas.
(RF) power amplifiers for use in analog wireless networks. However, over the past 25 years, Powerwave expanded its business through many acquisitions. In 1999, Powerwave acquired Hewlett-Packard
’s RF amplifier business, which was focused on the design and manufacturing of RF amplifiers for cellular, PCS and wireless local loop systems. This acquisition expanded Powerwave's product portfolio in key single carrier markets, such as GSM and TDMA
. In 2001, Powerwave acquired Toracomm Ltd., a UK-based engineering research and development company providing a broad range of RF, digital signal processing (DSP), system design and simulation expertise for 2G
, 2.5G and 3G
applications. In 2003, Powerwave acquired Ericsson Amplifier Technologies, Inc., which was focused on multi-carrier power amplifiers. In 2004, Powerwave acquired LGP Allgon, a global provider of wireless infrastructure equipment and coverage solutions, in order to offer a broader range of products for use in wireless networks worldwide. In 2005, Powerwave also acquired Kaval Wireless, an Ontario-based company that supplies in-building wireless coverage. This acquisition extended Powerwave’s product breadth and market reach in the coverage solutions marketplace with emphasis on the public safety and government markets. Also in 2005, Powerwave acquired certain assets of REMEC, Inc.’s Wireless Systems business, including its RF conditioning products, filters, tower mounted amplifiers and RF power amplifiers. Powerwave acquired specific product lines from Filtronic’s Wireless Infrastructure division in 2006 to include transmit/receive filters, integrated remote radio heads and power amplifier products, all for use in commercial wireless infrastructure base station equipment.
Base station
The term base station can be used in the context of land surveying and wireless communications.- Land surveying :In the context of external land surveying, a base station is a GPS receiver at an accurately-known fixed location which is used to derive correction information for nearby portable GPS...
and coverage systems. Powerwave’s product portfolio covers all major frequency bands and air interfaces
Air interface
In mobile or wireless communication, the air interface is the radio-based communication link between the mobile station and the active base station...
to support customers’ existing wireless networks as well as efforts to deploy next-generation 4G
4G
In telecommunications, 4G is the fourth generation of cellular wireless standards. It is a successor to the 3G and 2G families of standards. In 2009, the ITU-R organization specified the IMT-Advanced requirements for 4G standards, setting peak speed requirements for 4G service at 100 Mbit/s...
WiMAX
WiMAX
WiMAX is a communication technology for wirelessly delivering high-speed Internet service to large geographical areas. The 2005 WiMAX revision provided bit rates up to 40 Mbit/s with the 2011 update up to 1 Gbit/s for fixed stations...
and LTE
3GPP Long Term Evolution
3GPP Long Term Evolution, usually referred to as LTE, is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals. It is based on the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA network technologies, increasing the capacity and speed using new modulation techniques...
systems.
Wireless Technology Overview
WirelessWireless
Wireless telecommunications is the transfer of information between two or more points that are not physically connected. Distances can be short, such as a few meters for television remote control, or as far as thousands or even millions of kilometers for deep-space radio communications...
technology allows billions of users to be connected worldwide and cell phone use continues to increase, particularly in areas such as China
and India. Mobile subscriptions worldwide recently hit the 5 billion mark – and it’s estimated that 50 billion connections will be made by the end of this decade. Portable computers and PDAs have also become a de facto standard tool in business.
Wireless also plays a key role in public safety
Public Safety
Public safety involves the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety of the general public from significant danger, injury/harm, or damage, such as crimes or disasters .-See also:* By nation...
. One-third of the 240 million calls made to 911 each year, are from wireless devices. Wireless technology is increasingly used to connect families separated by disaster, assist emergency relief workers with response time and allow health workers to operate in rural areas. Wireless plays a critical role in helping fire, police, medical, security and other emergency service personnel improve communications throughout buildings and other structures for coordinated emergency response.
Without the underlying infrastructure to support wireless networks, wireless technology wouldn't exist. These wireless networks consist of a series of cell sites (also called base stations) that host the antennas and other equipment that is needed to broadcast and receive wireless signals.
Customers
Powerwave's technology can be found in major wireless networks. Customers include wireless OEMOriginal Equipment Manufacturer
An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, manufactures products or components that are purchased by a company and retailed under that purchasing company's brand name. OEM refers to the company that originally manufactured the product. When referring to automotive parts, OEM designates a...
s and wireless carriers. Powerwave’s in-building and outdoor Distributed Antenna System
Distributed Antenna System
A Distributed Antenna System, or DAS, is a network of spatially separated antenna nodes connected to a common source via a transport medium that provides wireless service within a geographic area or structure...
solutions are used in hundreds of public safety and commercial deployments worldwide, including skyscrapers, subways, airports and sports arenas.
Acquisitions
Originally operating under the name Milcom International, Inc., the company initially sold radio frequencyRadio frequency
Radio frequency is a rate of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to 300 GHz, which corresponds to the frequency of radio waves, and the alternating currents which carry radio signals...
(RF) power amplifiers for use in analog wireless networks. However, over the past 25 years, Powerwave expanded its business through many acquisitions. In 1999, Powerwave acquired Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
’s RF amplifier business, which was focused on the design and manufacturing of RF amplifiers for cellular, PCS and wireless local loop systems. This acquisition expanded Powerwave's product portfolio in key single carrier markets, such as GSM and TDMA
Digital AMPS
IS-54 and IS-136 are second-generation mobile phone systems, known as Digital AMPS . It was once prevalent throughout the Americas, particularly in the United States and Canada. D-AMPS is considered end-of-life, and existing networks have mostly been replaced by GSM/GPRS or CDMA2000...
. In 2001, Powerwave acquired Toracomm Ltd., a UK-based engineering research and development company providing a broad range of RF, digital signal processing (DSP), system design and simulation expertise for 2G
2G
2G is short for second-generation wireless telephone technology. Second generation 2G cellular telecom networks were commercially launched on the GSM standard in Finland by Radiolinja in 1991...
, 2.5G and 3G
3G
3G or 3rd generation mobile telecommunications is a generation of standards for mobile phones and mobile telecommunication services fulfilling the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 specifications by the International Telecommunication Union...
applications. In 2003, Powerwave acquired Ericsson Amplifier Technologies, Inc., which was focused on multi-carrier power amplifiers. In 2004, Powerwave acquired LGP Allgon, a global provider of wireless infrastructure equipment and coverage solutions, in order to offer a broader range of products for use in wireless networks worldwide. In 2005, Powerwave also acquired Kaval Wireless, an Ontario-based company that supplies in-building wireless coverage. This acquisition extended Powerwave’s product breadth and market reach in the coverage solutions marketplace with emphasis on the public safety and government markets. Also in 2005, Powerwave acquired certain assets of REMEC, Inc.’s Wireless Systems business, including its RF conditioning products, filters, tower mounted amplifiers and RF power amplifiers. Powerwave acquired specific product lines from Filtronic’s Wireless Infrastructure division in 2006 to include transmit/receive filters, integrated remote radio heads and power amplifier products, all for use in commercial wireless infrastructure base station equipment.
Office Locations
Powerwave has office locations worldwide with a presence in 15 countries. The company’s three main locations are:- Worldwide Headquarters
- Powerwave Technologies, Inc., 1801 E. St. Andrew Pl., Santa Ana, CA 92705
- Main Asia-Pacific Office
- Powerwave Technologies Hong Kong, Ltd., 2018-2019 Chevalier Commercial Building, 8 Wang Hoi Road, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Main EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Office
- Knarrarnasgatan 7 8tr., 164 40 Kista, Sweden, Mailing Address: Box 1155, 164 26 Kista, Sweden
Company Leadership
Since February 2005, Powerwave’s President and Chief Executive Officer has been Ronald J. Buschur.Board of Directors
- Moiz M. Beguwala, Director
- Ken J. Bradley, Director
- Ronald J. Buschur, Director
- John L. Clendenin, Director
- David L. George, Director
- Eugene L. Goda, Director
- Carl W. Neun, Chairman of the Board
Officers
- Ronald J. Buschur, President and Chief Executive Officer
- J. Marvin MaGee, Chief Operating Officer
- Kevin T. Michaels, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
- Khurram P. Sheikh, Chief Technology Officer
- Basem Anshasi, Vice President, Worldwide Sales