Cadence, AST SpaceMobile Partner for Global Connectivity
December 4, 2024 | Cadence Design SystemsEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. and AST SpaceMobile, Inc., the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones designed for both commercial and government applications, announced their collaboration to advance AST SpaceMobile’s mission to eliminate connectivity gaps and connect people around the world with high-speed, space-based internet access.
Cadence and AST SpaceMobile announced their collaboration to advance AST SpaceMobile’s mission to eliminate connectivity gaps and connect people around the world with high-speed, space-based internet access.
The two companies collaborated on the AST5000 ASIC, a custom, low-power architecture that is the cornerstone of AST SpaceMobile’s next-generation BlueBird program. Designed to enable up to a tenfold improvement in processing bandwidth on each satellite, the AST5000 ASIC unlocks opportunities for seamless space-based cellular broadband services worldwide.
This innovative chip leverages the most advanced Cadence tools, flows and IP. The Cadence IP, which includes high-speed SerDes and other fundamental IP, enables optimal power and performance tradeoffs for more efficient system designs based on customers’ specific platform requirements, supporting a broad industrial temperature range. Additionally, the Cadence design enablement team achieved optimal power, performance and area (PPA) for the SoC, enhancing the efficiency and functionality of the AST5000 ASIC.
Another key aspect of this collaboration was the use of Cadence’s Palladium ® Emulation Platform . Palladium emulation helped validate and refine the IP integration to address and resolve issues during pre-silicon development, ensuring the integrity and performance of the final design.
“Cadence’s collaboration is instrumental in achieving our mission of delivering space-based cellular broadband connectivity,” said Huiwen Yao, chief technology officer at AST SpaceMobile. “Their industry-leading design solutions are fueling our innovation as we succeed at the complex engineering challenges of building a reliable and accessible space-based cellular broadband network.”
“We’re excited to collaborate with AST SpaceMobile on this groundbreaking project and contribute to technology that is redefining satellite and mobile capabilities,” said Boyd Phelps, senior vice president and general manager of the Silicon Solutions Group at Cadence. “Our extensive suite of robust, high-performance AI-driven EDA tools and IP solutions played a crucial role in the development of the AST5000 ASIC, providing a comprehensive solution spanning custom and digital design and verification.”
AST SpaceMobile’s mission to eliminate connectivity gaps and connect people around the world with high-speed, space-based internet access aligns with Cadence’s drive to enable faster and more efficient design cycles, thereby accelerating the path to a connected future. With its planned ASICs and 2,400 sq ft next-generation BlueBird satellite size, AST SpaceMobile expects to support up to 10,000 MHz of processing bandwidth per satellite in the future, with data transmission speeds of up to 120 Mbps, enabling voice calls, full data, and video applications on the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible to everyday smartphones.
Suggested Items
Analysts: 54 Trends That Will Shape the Technology Market
01/03/2025 | ABI ResearchAs 2025 kicks off, predictions abound on the technology innovations expected in the year ahead. In its new whitepaper, 101 Technology Trends That Will—and Won’t—Shape 2025, analysts from global technology intelligence firm ABI Research.
BOOK EXCERPT: The Printed Circuit Assembler's Guide to... Encapsulating Sustainability for Electronics, Chapter 4
12/31/2024 | I-Connect007Bio-based encapsulation resins have the potential to contribute to sustainability targets by extending product lifetime and improving performance. The author explores the use of recycled materials such as biogenic waste and lightweight expandable polymers to create more efficient and environmentally friendly encapsulation resins.
Siemens Extends Veloce Hardware-assisted Verification Support of EPGM Ethernet to 1.6 Tbps
12/18/2024 | SiemensSiemens Digital Industries Software announced today an extension of its Veloce™ hardware-assisted verification platform to support 1.6 Tbps Ethernet. As a core component of the Siemens software/hardware and system validation platform, Veloce delivers complete virtual models to support Ethernet Packet Generator and Monitor (EPGM) Ethernet port speeds up to 1.6 Tbps.
SEL Recognized as a Dream Employer
12/10/2024 | SELSchweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) has been named one of America's Dream Employers by Forbes. The American media and publishing company released its inaugural list ranking U.S. companies based on growth opportunities, quality of work, compensation, and company reputation.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces CHIPS Incentives Awards with Absolics and Entegris
12/06/2024 | U.S. Department of CommerceThe Biden-Harris Administration announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce has finalized two separate awards under the CHIPS Incentives Program’s Funding Opportunity for Commercial Fabrication Facilities.