The Open Base Station Architecture Initiative, (OBSAI) today announced the availability of base station specifications covering the mechanics and functionality aspects of key modules, to complement the existing OBSAI interface specifications for the subsystem areas of Transport, Baseband and Control. This latest announcement means that the OBSAI members now have a complete suite of both interface and hardware specifications that will enable the production of base station modules to fit any OBSAI compliant base station – thereby widening the customer base of many OBSAI members. The 100 member strong group has also completed a power system interface.
Peter Kenington, OBSAI Technical Work Group Chairperson said, “It has been one of OBSAI’s goals to work towards an open market for base station modules, where genuine interoperability and interchangeability at the base station sub system level can take place. This will bring benefits to many players in our industry – from module and component vendors, who will be able to re-deploy R&D resources more effectively, to operators who will eventually realise a reduced spares inventory. It will soon be realistic to base a BTS module procurement specification almost entirely on the appropriate OBSAI specifications, plus the relevant air interface standard. This is a unique benefit of OBSAI.”
Jukka Klemettila, OBSAI Chairperson, said: “We are very pleased with the progress of OBSAI. OBSAI compatible components and modules are now available on the market as previously promised. In addition to the module specifications, OBSAI has also just completed work on the power interface specification that defines communication interfaces between power systems and existing OBSAI modules.”
These new specifications will enhance speed to market, reduce the cost of BTS systems and allow BTS sub-system vendors to focus engineering resources towards creating greater innovation in all areas of BTS engineering.
OBSAI is also currently ensuring compatibility with newer air interfaces, such as TD-SCDMA and WiMax
OBSAI previously announced the availability of internal interface specifications and the System Reference Document, for the Transport, Control, Baseband, and Radio modules in October 2003. One of the benefits of these specifications is that they are air interface agnostic and are compatible with WCDMA, CDMA and GSM/Edge base stations.