Analog Devices Announces Complete Radio Platform for 5G O-RAN Ecosystem

ADI’s radio platform includes all the core functionality needed in an O-RAN compliant 5G radio unit, including a baseband ASIC, software defined transceivers, signal processing, and power. This advanced radio platform is designed to enable significant performance and form factor improvements to address the critical power consumption and cost challenges of next-generation networks while reducing customers’ design cycles.

“O-RAN looks to disrupt the traditional market by rethinking the network structure with open standards that will require new and innovative radio solutions,” said Joe Barry, Vice President of Wireless Communications at Analog Devices. “ADI’s new O-RAN compliant solution marks a major step forward for the ecosystem by providing a performance optimized radio platform for 5G applications.”

O-RAN is reducing barriers to entry and offering new opportunities for current and emerging wireless suppliers. ADI is engaging directly with ecosystem participants to optimize total system efficiency, ensure interoperability, and further industry capabilities.

“Bringing an ASIC low PHY baseband to market is a big step forward for Open RAN. Now, there is a clear path for OEMs to build competitive systems for macro and small cell,” said Andy Dunkin, Open RAN RF and Digital Platform Development Manager at Vodafone Group. “It is initiatives like this that help build a healthy ecosystem.”

The Analog Devices platform allows radio designers and manufacturers to optimize total system performance for macro and small cell solutions. The reference design will enable designers to create O-RAN compliant radios with the use of:

• ADI’s next-generation transceiver featuring advanced digital front-end signal processing (DFE), digital pre-distortion with GaN PA support, crest factor reduction, channel digital up converters and channel digital down converters.
• A low-PHY baseband ASIC that delivers a 7.2x compliant solution for LTE, 5G and NBIoT, including IEEE1588 Precision Time Protocol and an eCPRI interface.
• Complete clock and power chain solutions.

“We are excited about ADI’s efforts in reducing barriers to entry in the O-RAN ecosystem by providing an entirely new level of support for an array of wireless vendors, said Steve Papa, CEO of Parallel Wireless. “It is solutions like this that will accelerate the standardization of Option 7.2 functional split for easier interoperability integration.”

Technology evaluation platforms will be available later this year.

• Learn more about the ASIC-based radio platform at: http://platform.radioverse.com
• To learn more about Analog Devices’ systems and solutions, please visit: http://www.analog.com/radioverse
• Analog Devices is part of the O-RAN Alliance. To learn more visit: o-ran.org

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements by Messrs. Barry, Dunkin, and Papa and other statements regarding the expected opportunities, benefits, cost savings, product offerings and developments relating to Analog Devices’ ASIC-based radio platform, that are based on current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the industry and markets in which the companies operate. The statements contained in this release are not guarantees of future performance, are inherently uncertain, involve certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in such forward-looking statements, and such statements should not be relied upon as representing Analog Devices‘ expectations or beliefs as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described, implied or projected in any forward-looking statements include difficulty or delay in our design, development, production and marketing of products, technologies and solutions, including those associated with the course, impacts and uncertainty of the COVID-19 global pandemic, and other risk factors described in the most recent filings of Analog Devices with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Analog Devices does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements made by us.