ZTE Showcases Industry's First SDR Base Station

China's ZTE has launched the ZXGW B8036 SDR (Software Defined Radio) base station, the world's first pre-commercial SDR base station which supports GSM and WCDMA simultaneously within software rather than requiring separate hardware components like current base stations.

SDR can tune to different frequency bands and receive any modulation across a large frequency spectrum by using software to process digitised signals. With SDR technology, mobile operators will be able to extend the lifespan of their network systems, hence decreasing TCO (total cost of ownership) and significantly lowering investment risks. In addition, the ZTE SDR base station is built on an innovative MicroTCA platform that offers additional savings compared to a traditional design; its modular and scalable architecture allows flexible network design capabilities thus reducing CAPEX AND OPEX for operators. The technology, which runs radio functionality as software modules on an integrated and unified hardware platform, also enables operators to easily roll-out new mobile services and features.

"Integrating key functions into one unified solution is a critical trend in mobile networks today," said Fang Hui, ZTE's General Manager, WCDMA Products. "With ZTE's SDR technology, we take pride in introducing a new breakthrough in base station development for all waveforms. The ZXGW B8036 can also be designed to support CDMA and WiMAX in the future, and so meets telecom operators´ demands for a solution for network integration and smooth LTE evolution, which we expect to help them increase competitive advantage and add on new features."

Posted to the site on 12th February 2008