CommScope and Nokia Team Up to Reduce Active DAS Solution Complexity

—Companies Co-Developing Next-Gen Active DAS CPRI Interface Solution to Accelerate Operator Deployments—

The CPRI interface solution will link Nokia's AirScale baseband unit to CommScope's Era™ C-RAN antenna system to dramatically reduce the time, space and power required. (Graphic: Business Wire)

HICKORY, N.C. & ESPOO, Finland--()--Building on previous collaboration, CommScope and Nokia have teamed up to develop a solution to reduce the interface complexity between a base transceiver system (BTS) and active distributed antenna system (DAS). Using Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI*), the new solution will remove the need for the radio heads normally needed to feed an active DAS, hence reducing the space and power requirements of an active DAS.

The CPRI interface will link Nokia’s AirScale baseband unit to CommScope’s Era™ C-RAN antenna system and will dramatically reduce the time, space and power required to connect subscribers in high-capacity public venues and enterprises. This new agreement builds on the companies’ previous, successful co-development work.

“The benefits of a CPRI solution have already been well-established in distributed antenna systems—a much smaller headend unit is easier to deploy, uses less power and saves valuable room on-site,” said Matt Melester, senior vice president, Distributed Coverage and Capacity Solutions, CommScope.

The interoperable CPRI baseband solution from CommScope and Nokia removes the analog conversion stage, keeping the whole system digital until the distributed antennas.

“Nokia is constantly innovating to increase the flexibility and efficiency of mobile networks for operators and their subscribers,” said Randy Cox, Business Management SC Lead, Nokia. “CommScope’s leadership and continued innovation in active DAS, combined with our two companies’ track record of collaboration, will allow us to offer a valuable solution with the greatest possible impact.”

CommScope and Nokia expect to make the new interface solution available in mid-2018, and for it to be interoperable with the CommScope ION®-E distributed antenna system in addition to Era.

*CPRI is a specification for the communication link between radio equipment controller units, typically known as baseband units, and remote radio heads.

CommScope Era is a trademark of CommScope, Inc. ION is a registered trademark of CommScope, Inc.

About CommScope:

CommScope (NASDAQ: COMM) helps design, build and manage wired and wireless networks around the world. As a communications infrastructure leader, we shape the always-on networks of tomorrow. For more than 40 years, our global team of greater than 20,000 employees, innovators and technologists have empowered customers in all regions of the world to anticipate what’s next and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Discover more at http://www.commscope.com.

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This press release includes forward-looking statements that are based on information currently available to management, management’s beliefs, as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results to differ materially from those currently expected. In providing forward-looking statements, the company does not intend, and is not undertaking any obligation or duty, to update these statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts

CommScope
News Media Contact:
Bill Walter, +1 708-236-6634
publicrelations@commscope.com
or
Financial Contact:
Jennifer Crawford, +1 828-323-4970

Release Summary

CommScope and Nokia have teamed up to develop a solution to reduce the interface complexity between a BTS and active DAS.

Contacts

CommScope
News Media Contact:
Bill Walter, +1 708-236-6634
publicrelations@commscope.com
or
Financial Contact:
Jennifer Crawford, +1 828-323-4970