Etherstack and CML collaborate on DMR technology

Etherstack has announced that it will offer its DMR Tier 2 and Tier 3 Protocol Stack software integrated with existing DMR products from mixed-signal semiconductor company CML Microcircuits.

In a statement, the company said that by collaborating with CML, it hopes to lower the barrier to building high-quality, low-cost DMR equipment.

Both firms are longstanding suppliers of LMR technology.

The DMR segment of the market is the fastest growing of the US$18bn global LMR industry, according to IHS research.

Etherstack said its flexible licensing models will ensure customers have full ownership and control over the software and functionality of their radio equipment.

“This is a great chance to offer customers a unified software and hardware option for DMR that keeps product development firmly in the hands of the customer,” said Anna Squires, head of Etherstack’s protocols division.

“DMR is a modern, flexible and truly international standard. We hope this offering will contribute to the strong growth of DMR radio technology around the world.”

At the Critical Communications World (CCW) 2016 trade show in Amsterdam last month, Etherstack demonstrated its DMR Tier 3 stack running on prototype hardware using CML’s DMR silicon making calls to a third-party DMR Tier 3 handset via DMR infrastructure.

A fully integrated solution is under development between the companies.

“A comprehensive DMR silicon plus software solution; that is a unique DMR market enabler,” said Malcolm Lyman, marketing manager of CML Microcircuits UK.

“This solution will allow new manufacturers to enter the DMR market quickly with low risk and facilitate existing manufacturers to implement DMR Tier 3 quickly.”