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From the June 14, 1999, issue of Wireless Week
Carriers Try Multi-vendor Approach
Interoperable Systems Can Boost Competition, Lower Costs
By Peggy Albright
The code division multiple access industry is beginning to see fundamental changes in how its wireless networks are planned and
built. The new approach--which enables carriers to select certain components a la carte, without having to buy the "whole
enchilada" from a single vendor--is expected to produce substantial reductions in capital expenditures and spur competition and
innovation among equipment vendors.
AirTouch Communications Inc. announced the most recent development of this capability when it completed field trials of the
multi-vendor approach on a temporary network near Modesto, Calif., last month. The program exceeded the carrier's expectations
in cost and performance benefits, and the company is now building a similar network, in Reno, Nev., to benchmark customer
satisfaction of the new system against existing equipment there. Expecting that it can reduce network costs by up to 50 percent
with this approach, the carrier is now telling all network equipment vendors to design equipment that can work with components
from other suppliers.
The AirTouch trial was the culmination of work conducted over the past several years by AirTouch, PrimeCo Personal
Communications LP, Sprint PCS and some equipment manufacturers, including Motorola Inc., to develop a precise specification
for linking vendors' base station controllers to mobile switching centers. AirTouch, through its Modesto trial, has gone beyond the
BSC-MSC focus to require interoperability between elements within the radio-frequency base station and between other network
elements.
"We really want to stir up the waters here and show that we can bring in vendors that are competitive and, if need be, put them
in," said Brent Bettencourt, director of strategic technology at AirTouch.
Its Modesto field trial used ultra-small, or "pico" base stations, supplied by Hyundai Electronics and Samsung Telecommunications
America Inc., that can be installed on street light standards and thus are less expensive to purchase, operate, maintain and locate
compared to conventional designs. The company also used network switching gear provided by computer telephony vendors
Tecore Inc. and TELOS Engineering Ltd., whose equipment can connect with many different radio base station manufacturers.
Other participants included Fujant Inc., which provided a new radio amplifier technology, and Celletra Ltd., which developed an
integrated tower-top active antenna system designed to enhance the performance of compact cellular and personal
communications services base stations. The specification for interoperability between CDMA base station and switching
equipment recently adopted by the CDMA Development Group was developed under the leadership of Sprint PCS, said Jim
Takach, advanced systems team leader at CDG.
Sprint PCS completed its own laboratory tests of a multi-vendor approach a couple months ago using a Nortel Networks MSC and
a Motorola base station subsystem, as well as a Lucent Technologies Inc. MSC and a Motorola base station subsystem. Sprint
PCS will conduct field trials of an interoperable system later this year.
"In a more competitive environment, even if you've already deployed a network, simply adding on will give more choices and
translate to price reduction, and it provides incentive for vendors to offer new and
enhanced features in timely fashion," said Dean Prochaska, director of wireless industry standards at Sprint PCS.
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