Communications Technologies Group

The Communications Technologies (CT) Group, established at the end of 2005, strives to develop world-class competitive communications and networking technology solutions and IPs for commercial and governmental customers.

Our mission is to deliver the highest level research and enabling technologies to address customer needs in achieving ubiquitous information networking. The Group’s research and development (R&D) addresses key trends and opportunities in the four areas of Wireless Communications, Broadband Communciations, Communications Software and RF Systems.

In the past few years, the Group has achieved significant progress in innovating and disseminating technologies and cultivating talents for Hong Kong. By the end of 2011, it has licensed technologies to more than 60 customers, filed 133 patents (52 granted) and received 12 awards. The Group’s expertise covers telecommunication networking and systems, communication software, antenna and RF systems, and IC design.

Highlights of CT Group’s R&D

Wireless Communications

The CT Group started 4G Wireless (TD-LTE) R&D in mid-2008 and has become one of the global leaders. Together with Innofidei, it developed the world’s first TD-LTE SoC supporting 20MHz bandwidth for data card application. The data cards manufactured by Lenovo were put on show by China Mobile in a TD-LTE field demo during the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.

Core technologies available for licensing and collaboration include:

• TD-LTE user Terminal and Small Cell baseband core
• TDD/FDD LTE Terminal and Small Cell baseband
• Practical MIMO
• LTE-Advanced/4G 

Communications Software

The Group has a solid track record in developing communication software and ASTRI’s wireless network management system has been commercialized and deployed in more than 20 countries. The MPLS-NMS has been adopted in backbone network by one of the largest telecom operators in Taiwan. The Group is presently developing LTE EPC and Femtocell Gateway system to support future 3G network evolution.

Core technologies available for licensing and collaboration include:

• LTE EPC (MME, S-GW and PDN-GW) and LTE Small Cell Gateway platform (HeGW, Security-GW, HeMS)
• Network management system – wireless network (WiFi/WiMAX)
• Network management system – IP network (MPLS/VPN – RSVP/LDP LSP, VLL, VPLS)

RF Systems

The Group possesses competitive antenna design and RF system technologies. Core technologies include isolation, multi-band, beam-forming, RF system technologies, efficiency and gain improvement.

Core technologies available for licensing and collaboration include:

• Far-field and near-field antennas (10MHz–10GHz)
• Digital RF repeater, power amplifier (700MHz-5GHz)

Broadband Communications

With the huge opportunities market in China, we developed RFIC technology with key features such as MIMO, direct conversion architecture, low noise high linearity front-end which helped Hong Kong to set up a technology leading role in China.