Workshop Background

The worldwide demand for cost effective mobile wireless voice AND data infrastructure with increasing bandwidth continues to grow. However, the complexity of responding to ever changing needs and technological advances with diverse standards and frequencies of operation is becoming increasingly difficult while still maintaining cost effectiveness.

The roll out of 2G cellular networks is essentially complete.  As service providers move to deploy 3G networks and beyond as well as WLAN systems, they are looking to ensure maximum reuse of existing facility and to "future proof" their networks i.e. design with flexibility to accommodate anticipated as well as even unforeseen capabilities as they emerge.  This implies flexibilities in both frequency and air interface architectures.

There is thus a need for developers to offer more universal or flexible base station solutions, with the ability to be adapted or upgraded at minimal cost with minimum change of hardware or simple software modifications.  This implies use of techniques such as Software Defined Radio or implementations of multi-band, multi-standard RF equipment for the base station front end as well as natural interfaces to WLAN systems.  It also will demand increasing backhaul capacity at low cost.

If your business is anywhere in the supply chain for future infrastructure equipment, you MUST actively participate in this unique IWPC Interactive Technical Workshop.

Workshop Goal

The GOAL of this workshop, the sixth in a series, is to bring together senior leaders from THE ENTIRE SUPPLY CHAIN to facilitate and stimulate breakthrough thinking on emerging technologies and manufacturing methods which, when coupled with market needs and timings, and key system cost drivers, can substantially drive down the cost of the RF hardware associated with future base stations capable of multi-mode, multi-standard operation and capable of being adapted to changing needs. 

In short, the goal of this workshop is to create an open, interactive environment, where the entire supply chain can communicate, network, share technology requirements and capabilities, and achieve mutually desired goals.

Tuesday, November 4

7:00 PM

Social and Networking 

Reception & Registration

At the Slough/Windsor Marriott Hotel

Wednesday, November 5

7:00 AM

Breakfast & Registration

8:00 AM

Opening Remarks

8:15 AM  

Introductions

Each person will be asked to introduce him/herself and share how they can contribute to this process

THE NEEDS AND THE CHALLENGES

9:00 AM

Keynote Presentation

OVERVIEW

Current status of networks and plans for 3G rollout, interoperability, and forward interworking with WLAN systems

• Markets and timing

• Economics- CAPEX vs OPEX

• Performance Requirements- Now and future

• Reliability and Maintenance

The 3G Infrastructure Challenge

Dave Williams

CTO

O2

10:00 AM

BREAK  

10:30 AM

VIEWS OF OTHER NETWORK OPERATORS’ AND SERVICE PROVIDERS’

• Market and Technology views 

• Current and future needs of base stations

• When would service operators expect to phase-in upgrades and transitions to 3G?

• Perspectives on upgradeability - eg GSM - GPRS - EDGE -WCDMA- HSDPA,  etc.

• Can future basestations be “future- proofed”?

• 2G/3G transitional issues - sharing and building on existing infrastructure

• What will be the role for Software Defined Radio and how will regulations have to be changed?

• Differences between North American and European transition issues 

• Modular constructions and Interchangeability of OEM subsystems-Could this make sense?

• What are the service providers views/concerns with the OBSAI and CPRI objectives?

• Are  Tower Mounted Electronics acceptable yet?  If not, why not?

• Will there be a role for neutral hosts and tower operators?

• What will be the role and impact of Wi-Fi services?

Reconfigurable Basestations and Overview of Regulatory Issues Arising from Use of SDR-- A European Operator's Perspective

Stephen Hope

Senior Consultant Orange Innovation
Orange UK

11:00 AM 

PANEL 

The Network Operators and Service Providers will be given the opportunity to clarify their needs, requirements and views and will engage in a panel session where the audience is invited to ask questions and they will be given the opportunity to ask each other and the audience questions.

Previous Speakers and Additional Network Operators and Service Providers

Present

• O2
• Orange UK
• T-Mobile
• Vodafone

12:00 PM

 NETWORKING LUNCH

SYSTEM STANDARD INTERFACES

Overview of OBSAI

Jukka Klemettila, 

OBSAI Chairperson

Nokia

Overview of CPRI

Werner Korte 

Senior Vice President

Siemens

1:40 PM

BASESTATION SYSTEM and SUBSYSTEM PROVIDERS' VIEWS

• Can base station BTS/Node B architectures be designed to be “future-proof”?

• What are the 2G/3G upgrade issues and technology solutions 

• What are the objectives and the status of the OBSAI and CPRI?

• What are the potential impacts on cost and performance?

• What are the implications for the kinds of RF Hardware needed?

• What will be the impact of Software Defined Radio techniques?

• What transmission air interface solutions are appropriate? 

• Tower Mounted Electronics reliable enough yet?  If not, why not?

• What changes will be required for field operation, installation, maintenance and servicing?

• Will the principals apply to Picocell, Microcell and Repeater Terminals?

• What are the options for integrating WLAN (IEEE802) access?

• What are the implications of systems for remote location of RF towers? 

3G Node B Evolution Towards HSDPA and Beyond

Bernd Haberland

Leader, Radio Protocols

Research and Innovation 
UMTS Design

Alcatel SEL AG

Intelligent Antennas and Capacity Enhancement Techniques for 3G Basestations

Adam Jahr

Senior Manager

UTRAN Product Mgmt

Lucent Technologies

SDR and Capacity Enhancement Techniques for Basestations

John Potocki

Senior Product Manager

Motorola - GTSS

Other OEMs Present

• Samsung
• Siemens

3:00 PM  

NETWORKING BREAK

3:30 PM

BASESTATION SYSTEM and SUBSYSTEM PROVIDERS' VIEWS
(Cont'd)

Key Subsystems

Parallel Processing for all-software Baseband Processing in Wireless Basestations"

Dr. Douglas Pulley

Chief Technical Officer

Picochip Designs Limited

Air Interface Optimization and Adaptation

Murat Eron

Sr. Product Manager
PowerWave Technologies

High Efficiency Power Amplifiers for 2.5/3G Basestations

Eric Hawthorn

Managing Director
Filtronic

PANEL of MAJOR SYSTEMS and 
SUBSYSTEM SUPPLIERS

Previous Speakers 

5:30 PM

Adjourn  

6:30 PM

Dinner and Entertainment

UK Style  

 Bus Transportation provided to and from hotel

Thursday, November 6

7:00 AM

Breakfast  

BASESTATION ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES

8:30 AM

ENABLING TECHNOLOGY SUPPLIERS

• Subsystem Suppliers

• Device technologies

• Assembly technologies

• Packaging technologies

• Material options

• Antennas

• Testing and diagnostics

• Shielding

• Design Tools

• Cabling and connectors

• Environmental and lightning protection

• Others

IWPC Members

The Impact of Modular Communications Platforms on the Radio Access Network

Scott Mordue

Technical Architect

Intel

Superconductor MicroElectronics for 2G and beyond Base Stations -- a quantum leap in performance

Jack Rosa

CEO, President & Vice Chairman

HYPRES, Inc

Semiconductor Technologies for Upgradeable/Flexible Basestations

Michael Long

Manager/Mktg-Wireless Infrastructure

Embedded DSP Division

Analog Devices

Multi-chip Component Integration for Wireless Infrastructure

Eric Higham

Business Development Manager

Tyco Electronics, M/A-COM

BREAK

10:30 AM

ENABLING TECHNOLOGY SUPPLIERS
(Cont'd)

Switch Combiner Evolution - Next Generation Performance Available Today

Anthony Sweeney

Director of Engineering

Endwave Corporation

Base Station Frequency Band Conversion - A Retrofit from 850 MHz to 1900 MHz

Karl Hricko

Wireless Key Account Manager

Aeroflex/KDI Integrated Products

Reliability and Lightning Protection Overview for Tower Top Electronics

Art Peltier

Vice President, Engineering

Polyphaser

 LUNCH

1:00 PM

Set Up Break Out Sessions Working Groups

Questions to be answered:

1.  What are the gaps in:

Technology ?

Communication ?

2.  What is needed from the supply chain to address these gaps ?

3.  What can IWPC do to assist ?

The group will interactively discuss and identify opportunities for future fruitful development.

We will break into small working groups and allow members to interact with like and no-so-like minded professionals.

The goal of this process is to clarify the needs and identify new opportunities for development.

Each working group will identify a leader and at the end, the leader will make a short presentation on the findings and conclusions of their group. 

2:00 PM

Breakout Sessions

4:00 PM 

Breakout Session Reports

Each Working Group Leader will make a 10 minute presentation to summarize the Wish List Items and Conclusions of his/her working group. 

Group will come together and have an interactive discussion to exchange and challenge ideas presented by working group leaders.

This process dramatically expands the thinking of the attendees.

Take Aways & Closing Remarks

Adjourn

Dinner (Dutch) 

Friday, November 7

Tour of O₂ Network Operations Centre 
and
Integration Test Facilities

Bus Transportation provided from and to hotel.