PA Consulting Group and CEVA Partner for Software-Based 3G Solution Targeting Wireless Infrastructure

New CEVA-XCnet partner to deliver HSPA PHY for CEVA-XC communication processors and CEVA-XC wireless infrastructure reference architectures

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 9, 2011  -- CEVA, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEVA); (LSE: CVA), the leading licensor of silicon intellectual property (SIP) platform solutions and DSP cores, and PA Consulting Group - a global management and IT consulting and technology firm with more than two decades experience in wireless software implementation, today announced the companies have partnered to offer optimized software solutions for wireless infrastructure applications based on the CEVA-XC processor and PA's baseband software radio expertise.  The companies will first offer an integrated 3G PHY software package for implementing HSPA (3GPP Rel-5, 6) on CEVA's software-defined radio (SDR) solution, which is specifically tuned for the needs of network operators. Future development will expand to support advanced 3G evolutions including HSPA+ (3GPP Rel-7, 8, 9).

The architecture meets the most demanding-use cases required by network operators for large macro base-stations by incorporating multiple CEVA-XC processors into a fully optimized, homogeneous multi-core solution for high-performance baseband applications. The joint solution can also be scaled down to address smaller cells such as picocells and femtocells to allow an optimized architecture with low area and power requirements for any cell size.

"The CEVA-XC platform has established itself as a state-of-the-art SDR implementation, capable of the most advanced requirements in both wireless terminal and infrastructure applications. Our expertise in wireless software-based solutions for DSP-based platforms is an ideal complement and this combination serves to further enhance multiple CEVA-based design wins in this space," said Steve Crammond, wireless expert at PA. "The scalable, programmable nature of the solution makes us well positioned to address the evolving needs of baseband deployments around the world."

"PA has a long track record of success in helping drive the adoption of next generation wireless technologies through its expertise in Layer 1 software solutions. The combination of CEVA's SDR DSP and PA's software technologies offers an extremely efficient and optimized approach to implementing 3G in infrastructure applications. We look forward to helping our mutual customers leverage the 3G opportunity while also delivering a flexible solution to meet future wireless requirements," said Eran Briman, vice president of marketing at CEVA.

With the addition of PA to the CEVA-XCnet™ partner program, customers will now be able to access critical PHY software for CEVA's platforms that address 3G and 4G requirements (e.g. WCDMA, HSPA, HSPA+, LTE and LTE-A) on the same programmable platform.

About PA Consulting Group

PA Consulting Group is a leading management and IT consulting and technology firm. Independent and employee-owned, we operate globally in more than 30 countries and transform the performance of major organisations in both the private and public sectors. 

From initial idea generation and strategy development through to detailed implementation, we deliver significant and tangible results. We have outstanding technology development capability; a unique breadth of skills from strategy to performance improvement, from HR to IT; and strong expertise in communications, defence, energy, financial services, government and public services, healthcare, international development, manufacturing and water.

PA's communication and wireless technology work focuses on the design and development of software radio solutions for all the major cellular standards.  PA's team selects the best architectural approach (DSP, FPGA, GPU etc) to provide outstanding performance, and supports the signal processing with RF and higher level software solutions.  PA also provides independent advice on technical issue for vendors, regulators, operators and users of mobile systems. 

For more on innovative wireless technology development and PA's dedicated Cambridge Technology Centre go to www.paconsulting.com/wireless

About CEVA, Inc.

CEVA is the world's leading licensor of silicon intellectual property (SIP) DSP Cores and platform solutions for the mobile handset, portable and consumer electronics markets. CEVA's IP portfolio includes comprehensive technologies for cellular baseband (2G / 3G / 4G), multimedia, HD video and audio, voice over packet (VoP), Bluetooth, Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) and Serial ATA (SATA). In 2010, CEVA's IP was shipped in over 600 million devices, powering handsets from 7 out of the top 8 handset OEMs, including Nokia, Samsung, LG, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and ZTE. Today, more than one in every three handsets shipped worldwide is powered by a CEVA DSP core. For more information, visit www.ceva-dsp.com