Cost-Effective GSM over DVB-RCS, New Bands, Industrialisation and Pre-Production

Objectives

The project aims are the:

• Extension of low cost 1TRX radio family for GSM BTS targeted for low capacity cells and with minimal power consumption allowing for all solar powered integrated satellite terminal/GSM BTS, into GSM-850, DCS-1800 and PCS-1900 band variants in addition to the E-GSM-900 variant,
• CE marking of the BSS controller and the radio units,
• Establishing the production line for the equipment.

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Features

The radio module comprises a single mixed signal PCB in cast aluminium mechanical housing and interface to the GSM baseband modem over Ethernet.

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The transmitter is based on digital filtering and sampling rate up-conversion in an FPGA followed by Digital-to-Analogue conversion and direct up-conversion to 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz according to the system variant. The PA has a maximum output power of 2W.

On the receive side the signal is down-converted to an IF of 71 MHz prior to Analogue-to-Digital conversion, sub-sampling, down-conversion to baseband, filtering and sampling rate down-conversion.

The optimised “GSM over IP over DVB-RCS” interface is implemented in terms of added functionality at both ends of the DVB-RCS satellite link, i.e. at the SatLink VSAT IDU and at the HUB.

Project Plan

The following main activities were planned:

• Pre- production and test of extended bands,
• Qualify the product family for the respective markets,
• Development and verification of manufacturing test and production line.

The following reviews have been held:

• Baseline Design Review (November 2009) (completed),
• Test Readiness Review (April 2010) (completed),
• Final Review (November 2012) (completed)

Challenges

The key issue is the development of elements that will provide an integrated VSAT/BSS suited to operation in presently uncovered rural areas. The units are compact and suited to the environmental conditions, and have low power consumption avoiding need for cooling and allowing solar powered operation.

Benefits

The building blocks developed in this project are elements of STM’s integrated satellite-cellular Base Station Systems called SuperPicoTM , enabling satellite-based cellular backhaul supporting cellular frequency bands as used in different regions.

Current Status (dated: 14 Nov 2012)

The project has been finalized.