Wireless solutions group Radio Frequency Systems (RFS) has recently demonstrated a remote radio head (RRH) unit that forms a fast bit-rate "fiber-to-the-tower-top" solution. Compatible with the open base station architecture initiative (OBSAI) RP3-01 interface definition, the landmark RFS development underpins important new wireless network deployment and management strategies.

By leveraging the bandwidth and flexibility of fiber-optic technologies, the RFS RRH system permits base transmitter station (BTS) to antenna separation distances of up to 15 km. This allows the BTS to be located in more easily acquired sites, remote from the mast and radio head/antenna assembly. In addition, the RFS RRH fiber-optic link offers ongoing operating expense savings, courtesy of the almost loss-free "BTS-to-tower-top" fiber link.

The unit’s total throughput capacity of greater than 3 Gbps ensures that the RFS RRH is well-placed to support powerful RRH networking topologies, such as daisy chain, ring and tree-and-branch.

The RFS RRH is fully compatible with the OBSAI RP3-01 interface definition. With close to 130 companies in the industry, OBSAI aims to establish a more open base station market. Its company members have produced and made available a complete set of open interface and module hardware connectivity specifications addressing the areas of transport, control, baseband and radio, within the base station subsystem.

“We are delighted to have achieved this important milestone,” said André Doll, RFS vice president of Product Management RF Conditioning. “OBSAI-compatibility ensures that our RRH solution will easily be modified to support the widest range of third-generation (3G) and 3.5G wireless technologies, including worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX).” It is predicted that emerging WiMAX broadband wireless data networks will have specific needs for such active tower-top solutions--particularly in the early stages of network deployment in dense inner-city areas.

The RFS RRH unit provides a digital interface to the BTS, plus modulation/demodulation and amplification of both transmit and receive RF signals. In addition, all antenna interface standards group (AISG)-compliant antenna control and monitoring functionality is supported via the RFS RRH and the fiber link. All essential data channel serialization and de-serialization, data buffering, redundancy coding and clock synchronization can be handled onboard the unit.

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