Analog Devices has released an ASIC-based radio platform for O-RAN compliant 5G radio units intended to shorten time to market and satisfy the evolving needs of 5G networks. The O-RAN ecosystem employs open standards to disaggregate the traditional network and enable greater flexibility and added features over carrier networks.
The radio platform incorporates all the core functionality required in an O-RAN compliant 5G radio unit, comprising a baseband ASIC, signal processing, software-defined transceivers, and power. This advanced radio platform is intended to facilitate significant performance and form factor increases to address the critical power consumption and cost challenges of next-generation networks while decreasing customers’ design cycles.
“O-RAN looks to disrupt the traditional market by rethinking the network structure with open standards that will require new and innovative radio solutions,” said Joe Barry, vice president of Wireless Communications at Analog Devices. “ADI’s new O-RAN compliant solution marks a major step forward for the ecosystem by providing a performance optimised radio platform for 5G applications.”
“Bringing an ASIC low PHY baseband to market is a big step forward for Open RAN. Now, there is a clear path for OEMs to build competitive systems for macro and small cell,” said Andy Dunkin, Open RAN RF and digital platform development manager at Vodafone Group. “It is initiatives like this that help build a healthy ecosystem.”
The platform enables radio designers and manufacturers to optimise total system performance for macro and small cell solutions.
“We are excited about ADI’s efforts in reducing barriers to entry in the O-RAN ecosystem by providing an entirely new level of support for an array of wireless vendors, said Steve Papa, CEO of Parallel Wireless. “It is solutions like this that will accelerate the standardisation of Option 7.2 functional split for easier interoperability integration.”