Analog Devices (ADI) announced an ASIC-based radio platform for O-RAN compliant 5G radio units. Designed to shorten time to market and meet the evolving needs of 5G networks, ADI’s radio platform 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, the company said.
The platform is expected to help OEMs bring the first macro and small cells based on Open RAN to the commercial market. The reference design will enable designers to create O-RAN compliant radios with the use of ADI’s next-generation transceiver with advanced digital front-end signal processing, digital pre-distortion with GaN PA support, crest factor reduction, channel digital up converters and channel digital down converters. The low-PHY baseband ASIC also delivers a 7.2x compliant solution for LTE, 5G and NB-IoT, including IEEE1588 Precision Time Protocol and an eCPRI interface.
Supporting quotes in the announcement included Vodafone, which called the product a "big step forward for Open RAN" and Parallel Wireless, which said ADI's platform will help lower barriers to entry in the market for vendors and accelerate the standardisation of the 7.2 functional split.
