Our work here is done, says base station organisation
The Open Base Station Architecture Initiative says it has achieved its objectives by releasing a full set of interface, hardware and test specifications compatible with all the current major air interfaces.
OBSAI was established in 2002 to develop a set of specs to enable manufacturers and developers to make base station components and modules, creating a more open market and reducing the dependency on OEM specifications.
The OBSAI base station interface specifications include GSM, GSM/EDGE, WCDMA, CDMA and WiMAX air interfaces, and cover the subsystem areas of Transport, Clock/Control, Radio and Baseband – plus detailed System Reference Document and testing specifications. These, together with hardware connection specifications, are available for download from the OBSAI web site.
Tero Mustala, OBSAI Chairperson, said, “What OBSAI has achieved is an industry first. By using our expert members across the telecommunications industry we have built a complete set of robust specifications that can be used with all air interface applications across key parts of the cellular base station. In addition, the availability of our test specifications provides a key benefit to the OBSAI standards initiative, allowing operators to have confidence in the products they select from different manufacturers.
“The open market that we have created is enabling manufacturers to produce base station modules and components based on OBSAI interface specifications and testing. This creates an environment where more cost effective products are available and manufacturers can focus on further innovation and more value added base station modules. Furthermore, product development cycles will be reduced and new base station functions will be available on the market more quickly. Through OBSAI, true base station interoperability has been achieved.”
But although the body says it has achieved its aims, it will continue to monitor base station evolution and keep its specs up to date, meeting the requirements of new standards coming on to the market.