[Openbts-discuss] All-IP BTS prior art

[Alexander C. <ale...@gm...>]

Hi all,

While waiting for my USRP to be delivered I'm doing a lot of
GSM reading (I came form VoIP world) and I found that while
OpenBTS is the first to provide truely open BTS implementation,
it's not the first to provide SDR-based VoIP backed BTS. Back
in 2007 AirNet (now acquired by Tecore) unveiled the same
BTS design (yet proprietary) under the name BTS-4000RM:
http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/Feb2007/4211.htm
Ssome more info (not too much still!) can be found at these links:
http://www.airnetcom.com/pr_index.htm
http://www.tecore.com/products/gsmran-minibts.cfm
http://www.tecore.com/products/gsmran-airsite.cfm

Also I found that there was an effort to use SIP/IMS for indoor
femtocells, see section "SIP or IMS" at:
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Femtocell#encyclopedia

So I wonder is there anyone whi had experience with either
of these and can provide his input on what is good/bad in them
comparing to OpenBTS approach from technocal/cost side?
And why those AirNet/Tecore solutions can't be used to
cover Africa for 1$/month/subscriber? How OpenBTS is going
to be better then they (except of it being open)?

NB I'm not trying to to anyhow blame OpenBTS - its openness is
no doubt the great achievment, and I by no means want to start
a holywar here. Rather I want to better understand the landscape
in which OpenBTS is living - as I said GSM world is a new thing
for me. So I would greatly appreciate a non-holywar discussion of
OpenBTS pros and cons.

-- 
Regards,
Alexander Chemeris.