Rural GSM Solutions Brief

Lowering OPEX and CAPEX with STM SuperPico

It is widely recognized that most of the next 1 Billion cellular phone users around the world
will come from the underserved rural populations in developing countries. Reaching
these populations with cost effective BTS solutions, though, has been challenging for
many cellular network operators. With traditional BTS deployments, both CAPEX and
OPEX are too high unless a single BTS can reach many thousands of users, especially
given the low ARPUs normally found in these areas. But this is often not feasible, espe-
cially in hilly and other difficult topographies, or where villages and towns are relatively
isolated from one another.

Universal Service Funds (USF) are often available to help subsidize installations in under-
served areas, but without a solution designed to meet the unique challenges of serving
these scattered populations, total costs will still exceed revenues.

It is with these challenges and opportunities firmly in mind that STM Group engineered its
new SuperPicoTM GSM base station in partnership with Vanu Inc. With 20+ years experi-
ence enabling telephony services for rural populations throughout the world, STM knows
well the key physical and operational requirements of a cost-effective and reliable rural
BTS installation.

In STM’s design of its SuperPico

SuperPico Highlights system, all aspects of a typical GSM base station
design were re-evaluated, and new, more effi-
♦ Less than 27 Watts per TRX
cient and effective design was created for the
♦ Up to 2 Watts RF output directly to the antenna
target market. Employing a software radio strat-
♦ Small, rugged enclosures, sealed against water & dust
egy and using Vanu’s proven Anywave® soft-
♦ No fans or moving parts
ware, STM was able to focus on the critical ele-
♦ Integrated satellite backhaul option
ments for a successful rural picocell, which
♦ Soft-radio using Vanu’s Anywave® software
include:

• Very low power consumption

Antenna: Type N • 100% solar powered (optional)
• Excellent RF power efficiency
• Good coverage range (up to 15 km)
Cellular
Cellular Cellular
Cellular Cellular
Cellular • Integrated backhaul communications options
Radio
Radio Radio
Radio Radio
Radio (e.g., satellite/VSAT)
• Local call routing with IP core architecture
• High MTBF with high ambient temperatures
Ethernet Inter-connect
“Abis over IP” (no fans or A/C required)
or • All-outdoor installation (no shelter required)
Local Call Switching
BSS
BSS “A over IP”
• Rapid, simple installation process
Controller
Controller • Remote upgrades and full management
To BSC or MSC

Local BSC (optional) Typical configurations range from 1 to 3 TRX, with

Illustration of SuperPico Architecture upgrade paths to larger configurations.
 Rural GSM Solutions Brief

Vanu’s Software Radio Approach

The Benefits for Mobile Operators
Vanu designed its innovative software radio technology to perform all signal processing on commercial
off-the-shelf hardware using an open architecture. Vanu’s software radio technology provides powerful
benefits to rural carriers looking to upgrade to new digital and broadband networks. Compared to tra-
ditional hardware-oriented approaches, such as DSP and FPGA-based solutions, a true SDR base sta-
tion, like the STM SuperPico system using Vanu’s GSM software radio solution, is highly modular and en-
ables a high degree of software portability and reuse, minimizing the amount of code that has to be re-
written to keep pace with advances in the underlying technology.

Advantages for Mobile Operators

Vanu’s software radio technology brings tremendous flexibility to the STM SuperPico system, providing
many advantages to mobile operators.

Upgradeability
Allows for the addition of new wireless standards quickly via remote software downloads, eliminating
costly hardware duplication when adding new services in an existing deployed frequency band.
Speeds time to market through ease of use and cost minimization.

Remote Management
The reduction of the number of site visits through remote network diagnostics and software downloads
helps operators control administration and maintenance costs.

Cost Reduction
The reduction of site rental and electrical utility costs due to a smaller base station footprint with fewer
hardware power requirements enables a greener solution.

Base Station Mobile

Controller Switching PSTN
Base (BSC) Center (MSC)
Transceiver
Station (BTS) Packet Control Packet Data
Unit/Function Service Node IP
(PCU/PCF) (GSN/PDSN)

Illustration of Anywave Software Radio Access Network

www.stmi.com
www.vanu.com
STM Group, Inc. | 2 Faraday | Irvine, CA 92618, USA | T +1 949 273 6800 | FAX +1 949 273
6020
STM Norway AS | Vollsveien 21 | 1366 Lysaker, Norway | T +47 6753 5337 | FAX +47 6753
All specifications and features subject to change without notice. SatLink, SuperPico, and the STM logo are a registered trademarks of STM Group, Inc.
Anywave is a registered trademark of Vanu, Inc.

Document # 200244; Revision A - 090324 © 2009