Complete radio platform for 5G O-RAN ecosystem

Analog Devices has launched an ASIC-based radio platform for O-RAN-compliant 5G radios designed to shorten time to market and meet the changing needs of 5G networks. The O-RAN ecosystem uses open standards to disaggregate the traditional network and allows for more flexibility and added features over the operator’s networks.

The radio platform includes all the basic functionality needed in a 5G radio compatible with O-RAN unit, including ASIC of the main band, signal processing, software-defined transceivers and power supply. This advanced radio platform aims to facilitate a significant increase in productivity and form factor to address the critical challenges of energy consumption and costs of next generation networks, while reducing customer design cycles.

“O-RAN seems to be disrupting 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-compatible solution marks a major step forward for the ecosystem by providing an efficiency-optimized radio platform for 5G applications.”

“The launch of ASIC low PHY baseband is a big step forward for Open RAN. There is now a clear path for OEMs to build competitive macro and small cell systems, ”said Andy Dunkin, Open RAN RF and Vodafone Group’s digital platform development manager. “Initiatives like this help build a healthy ecosystem.”

The platform enables radio designers and manufacturers to optimize the overall performance of the system for macro and small cellular solutions.

“We are thrilled with ADI’s efforts to reduce barriers to entry into the O-RAN ecosystem by providing a whole new level of support for multiple wireless providers,” said Steve Papa, CEO of Parallel Wireless. “It is solutions like this that will speed up the standardization of the functional split for option 7.2 to facilitate interoperability integration.”