5G FAPI specs updated with richer 3GPP feature set
5G FAPI suite with richer 3GPP feature set to underpin supply chain diversification
SCF has updated the suite of 5G FAPI specifications which underpin the high-performance low-cost components integral to 5G mobile base stations, whether small cell or macro. This update demonstrates the ongoing commitment of the ecosystem to continually improve the standard, adding new features and maintaining existing ones.
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Why join?
SCF is a global membership organization committed to supporting agile, low-cost mobile infrastructure through small cells. Our mission is to make mobile cellular connectivity an accessible resource for organizations of all sizes, and to support the digital transformation of industry, enterprise and communities.
As the mobile ecosystem has evolved, we’ve seen a significant shift from a traditional B2C environment to a B2B and B2C environment, providing potential for new business relationships and opportunities:
- Technology providers expanding from OEMs, tower and transport providers to also include public and private cloud providers
- Network providers expanding from MNOs to also include neutral host providers, private network providers and systems integrators
- Service providers expanding from MNO/MVNOs to also include private network operators
- Connectivity consumers expanding from individual subscribers to include industry, enterprise, smart cities, guests, employers and IoT
Small cells are the means by which enterprise, industry and communities are joining the mobile economy and finding new ways to create value with mobile connectivity.
SCF’s work program has been developed to support this new connectivity agenda, helping to promote and deliver the opportunities and overcome any barriers.
Why not join us on the journey?
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Small Cell Forum membership is open to any legally established corporation, individual firm, partnership, governmental body or international organization supporting the promotion and worldwide deployment of small cell technologies.
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If you are interested in becoming a Small Cell Forum member and require further details, please contact our Membership Services team.
Our work program
Below are the areas our members will be working on as part of our 2020-21 work program
5G products and components
Small cells are changing. Their form is changing and so are their use cases. To avoid the risk fragmentation, SCF has produced a consensus view and concise definition of the types of 5G small cells and the key characteristics of the different types of commercially viable 5G small cell RAN products over the next five years.
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FAPI specifications
SCF has updated the suite of 5G FAPI specifications which underpin the high-performance low-cost components integral to 5G mobile base stations, whether small cell or macro. FAPI has already been widely adopted in the vast majority of 2G, 3G and 4G system-on-a-chip based small cells and the 5G version is now on its third release.
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Open6
FAPI is an interface between the chipset and the software within a small cell. It enables a small cell maker to integrate a SoC from one vendor with upper layer software from another vendor and combine that into one product. nFAPI provides a transport wrapper around the established FAPI PHY APIs to create a fronthaul interface between an S-RU and S-DU. The combination of FAPI and nFAPI is called Open6.
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Neutral hosts & alternative deployers
There are powerful market drivers for small cells to be deployed in a multi-operator or neutral host environment. Today, unlocking the opportunities and removing the barriers to small cell deployments for neutral hosts is a growing part of SCF’s work.
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Private networks and edge
Today, commercial conditions are ripe for enterprises and government to leverage small cell-based private networks for their business-critical and mission-critical connectivity needs. Private networking technology is also a significant opportunity for operators and vendors, enabling new business models, tailored service offerings and access to new verticals.
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Advocacy and policy
SCF’s role extends to more than small cell technology and business cases, we also work with regulators, governments, and organizations. We act as advocates for small cells; on topics such as standardization, regulation, and health.
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SCF is accelerating small cell deployments, removing commercial and technical barriers, working with regulators and municipalities, partnering enterprise, forging new business cases.