Massive mMIMO model is claimed to be the ultimate in base station spectral efficiency
CommScope is joining Meta Connectivity on its Evenstar programme, to jointly develop open reference designs of Open RAN to encourage others to adopt it.
“We are excited to add CommScope’s antenna interface expertise to our Evenstar programme,” said Jaydeep Ranade, director of wireless engineering at Meta Connectivity.
Their joint mission is to develop a Massive MIMO (mMIMO) reference design based on O-RAN Alliance interoperability specifications. Massive MIMO systems typically have tens, hundreds, or even thousands of antennas in a single antenna array, as a technique to improve base station performance.
Spectral efficiency looms large
Massive MIMO improves spectral efficiency, which boosts network capacity and expands coverage. The high-level architectural uses open standard antennae and radio interfaces and adopts best practice calibration designs.
Meta Connectivity works with control unit and distribution unit software vendors who will manage interoperability testing.
CommScope will support Over-the-Air (OTA) testing and characterisation of the antenna within a laboratory environment.
Disaggregate to accumulate
“Programmes like Evenstar support the industry’s disaggregation of software from proprietary hardware and provides a basis for ecosystem investment that is needed,” said Joe Madden of Mobile Experts.
The mMIMO reference design will provide operators with the option to further disaggregate the filter/antenna elements from the radio unit, supporting flexibility and delivering implementation options to the market.
“Open RAN is gaining momentum and mMIMO 5G deployments will require cooperation and collaboration between vendors based on competitive reference models,” said Farid Firouzbakht, senior VP of outdoor wireless networks at CommScope.