For those who came in late the O-RAN ecosystem use open standards to disaggregate the traditional network and allow greater flexibility and additional features across carrier networks.

What ADI has come up with is a radio platform that includes all the core functionality needed in an O-RAN compliant 5G radio unit, including a baseband ASIC, software-defined transceivers, signal processing, and power.

This will allow performance and form factor improvements to address the critical power consumption and cost challenges of next-generation networks while reducing customers’ design cycles.

O-RAN is being tipped to reducing entry barriers and offering new opportunities for current and emerging wireless suppliers. ADI is engaging directly with ecosystem participants to optimise total system efficiency, ensure interoperability, and further industry capabilities.

ADI Vice President of Wireless Communications Joe Barry said that O-RAN looks to disrupt the traditional market by rethinking the network structure with open standards that will require new and innovative radio solutions.

“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.”

Vodafone’s Andy Dunkin, Open RAN RF and Digital Platform Development Manager at Group said that 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. “It is initiatives like this that help build a healthy ecosystem.”

The new platform allows radio designers and manufacturers to optimise total system performance for macro and small cells. The reference design will enable designers to create O-RAN compliant radios.

ADI’s next-generation transceiver features digital front-end signal processing (DFE), digital pre-distortion with GaN PA support, crest factor reduction, channel digital upconverters and channel digital down converters.

It also has a low-PHY baseband ASIC that delivers a 7.2x compliant solution for LTE, 5G and NBIoT, including IEEE1588 Precision Time Protocol and an eCPRI interface.