Altera Corporation has expanded its partnership with BigCat Wireless to accelerate the deployment of its FPGA-based Open Radio Unit (O-RU) reference designs across terrestrial and non-terrestrial wireless markets. The move marks a strategic step in scaling Altera’s radio access network (RAN) technology and expanding access to modular, Open RAN–compliant solutions for wireless infrastructure providers worldwide.
Under the new agreement, BigCat Wireless becomes an official solutions integrator for Altera’s O-RU reference designs, enabling faster and more cost-efficient deployment of customizable radio systems. The partnership aims to strengthen local sourcing capabilities and national ownership of critical communications infrastructure — an increasingly important priority as governments and enterprises push for greater network independence.
Altera’s O-RU designs, built on its Agilex 7 and Agilex 5 FPGA and SoC platforms, deliver high performance and energy efficiency in line with next-generation wireless infrastructure demands. The reference portfolio spans 5G Macro and massive MIMO (mMIMO) radios, private 5G systems, and satellite communications payloads and ground stations. Together, these platforms provide customers with pre-validated, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions that can be tailored to local spectrum and performance requirements.
“BigCat Wireless has proven itself to be a respected partner over years of collaboration by delivering high-quality solutions,” said Christian Lanzani, Ph.D., Head of Wireless Business at Altera. “Together, we can accelerate adoption of highly customized O-RUs and SatCom solutions, giving customers the freedom to tailor designs to their markets while maintaining local ownership.”
As a certified design services provider, BigCat Wireless will help vendors and service providers integrate Altera’s O-RU enablement platforms for geo-specific implementations. This includes support for commercial 5G, private networks, fixed wireless access, industrial automation, defense, and government applications. The collaboration is also expected to reduce R&D costs and shorten design cycles for customers deploying Open RAN architectures.
“Altera’s modular, FPGA-based O-RAN enablement packages are a game-changer for terrestrial and satellite communications,” said Kannan Gaddam, CEO of BigCat Wireless. “As a distributor and design service provider, we can help customers of all sizes leverage Altera’s radio IP and quickly tailor solutions to their spectrum, performance, and application needs.”
