Disaggregated Cell Site Gateway RFI Evaluation Results Announced
We can now announce the results of the Disaggregated Cell Site Gateway (DCSG) request for information (RFI) evaluation as a part of the ongoing effort to drive more open and disaggregated solution architectures for mobile infrastructures.
DCSGs on display at Mobile World Congress 2019 in Barcelona
Vodafone is an active member of the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) and previously issued an RFI inviting network hardware and software suppliers to propose technologies based on TIP's DCSG specifications.
The technical evaluation has been conducted and completed based on submitted RFI responses in the areas of:
- openness to work in a disaggregated network environment;
- platform architecture based on commercial off the shelf components, ability to support third-party software, and compliance with various time synchronisation requirements;
- software compliance with the routing capabilities required for traffic backhaul;
- scalability; and
- product readiness and availability.
We found that the supplier ecosystem is diverse and strong. As an outcome of the technical evaluation, we are recognising the following finalist suppliers (in no particular order):
- Hardware Platform: Alpha Networks; Delta Networks; and Edgecore Networks.
- Software: ADVA; IPInfusion; and Volta Networks.
"This is a significant milestone for the project as well as for the industry and it is the result of strong TIP community collaboration in the DCSG project group. We are amazed by the response of the invited suppliers," said Santiago Tenorio, Vodafone Group’s Head of Networks Strategy and Architecture and a TIP Board member.
"Now that we have a DCSG ecosystem and a clear set of specifications, it is the right moment to focus on the development of the technologies.”
Over the coming months Vodafone will continue to work with the supplier ecosystem to secure viable production models. As a next step, Vodafone will be performing technology lab and field trials with selected suppliers to further determine the deployment, operation, and management feasibilities with the goal of promoting wider adoption of the DCSG by all interested mobile operators worldwide.
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