[The Opoen Base Station Architecture Initiative comprised of 40 telecom companies announces the first-ever OBSAI interface specifications.]

Open Base Station Architecture Initiative (OBSAI) delivers first-ever open specifications for base station architecture

The Open Base Station Architecture Initiative (OBSAI), the leading industry forum of over 40 telecommunications companies creating open specifications for base station architecture, announced today the availability of the first OBSAI interface specifications.

By issuing specifications for internal interfaces between base station modules, OBSAI is enabling the design and manufacture of non-proprietary modules and components for key base station functions. OBSAI is the first industry forum to address the area of open base station specifications. Non-proprietary modules will substantially reduce the development effort and costs traditionally associated with creating new base station product ranges, while also allowing access to the widest choice of best-in-breed products and technologies. Further interface specifications will be available by October this year.

"The key challenges facing mobile telecommunications service providers are the high complexity and cost of infrastructure investment required to provide sufficient capacity for advanced mobile services and subsequently to bring these services to market," stated Jukka Klemettila, Chairperson of OBSAI. "The release of OBSAI's first specifications marks an important milestone for the industry. Nothing like this has been achieved so far and we believe that this will help the industry face these challenges."

The recently finalized specifications apply to interfaces between a base station's control, transport, and base band functions. Currently, a number of OBSAI members are working on implementing products based on these interface specifications. As a result, mobile operators will benefit from increased functionality and the ability to get advanced services to market more quickly.

According to OBSAI, by 2005 industry-wide adoption of the interface specifications will accelerate the transition towards an open base station module market. The Dell'Oro Group projects $20.2 billion in total 1) base stations market potential in 2005, increasing to $21.5 billion in 2006.

"We are excited about the new business opportunities enabled by specifications such as those developed by OBSAI," said Howard Bubb, General Manager, Intel Communications Group. "We are proud to be a member of this initiative to define modular base station building blocks, driving the market towards greater economies of scale, faster time-to-market and better price-performance."

"OBSAI is an important initiative that helps base station equipment supplier's focus on the areas where they truly add value - the integration of the components into complex systems -- yielding increased innovation. Availability of two key OBSAI interface specifications is a great milestone, leading to real implementations that benefit systems vendors, component suppliers, and ultimately the mobile operators," stated Ken Rehbehn, Principal Analyst, CurrentAnalysis.

"We are pleased to see that the first set of OBSAI specifications is now ready. In fact, we have already started to work on products that will be based on the OBSAI specifications," said Bill Vassilakis, Vice President of Strategic Technical Marketing at Powerwave Technologies.

A Systems Reference Architecture document addressing the interfaces is also available now. These specifications are available for all members of OBSAI to utilise.

Full details on how to join OBSAI can be found from: www.obsai.org

For further media information or to contact the OBSAI Chairperson: Elizabeth Mantere OBSAI Marketing Work Group Chairperson +358 50 482 0725 (EET)

About the Open Base Station Architecture Initiative:

The Open Base Station Architecture Initiative was formed in September 2002. It comprises over 40 leading telecommunication companies, such as Adlink, Alcatel, Altera, Andrew, APC, Benetel, Capitel, Efore, Elektrobit, Elvior, Filtronic, Force Computers, Hyundai, IC4IC, IDT, Intel, Lattice, LG Electronics, Marconi, Mindspeed, Molex, Morphics, Motorola Semiconductors, National Semiconductor, NEC Electronics, Nokia, Panasonic, Picochip, PMC Sierra, Powerwave, Radical Horizon, Radio Frequency Systems (RFS), RadiSys, Remec, Samsung, Sanmina SCI, STMicroelectronics, Temex, Texas Instruments and ZTE. OBSAI aims to establish open specifications for 3 main base station internal interfaces to future Base Station development. Further information from: www.obsai.org.

1) GSM/GPRS/EDGE BTS, CDMA BTS, and WCDMA Node B shipments

More...

Back to Headlines...