Check this one out

From: Magnus Kelly [mailto:magnus.kelly@mcomwifi.net]
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2006 4:26 PM
To: Aimable Habiyakare; CM0002@aol.com
Cc: serusers@iptel.org
Subject: RE: [Serusers] Open source GSM/CDMA network

As one of the UK gsm guard band license holders this thread is exactly what I am hoping for, currently the only SDR GSM bts I am aware of is from www.vanu.com who in discussion, confirm that they have it running under Linux with a wide band final output transceiver + and as such the radio can be changed on the fly between different technologies – meaning can start with gsm and then potentially change by software to other technology as new standards emerge.

Perhaps you could share where the info on the open source WCDMA bts can be located?

Magnus

From: serusers-bounces@lists.iptel.org [mailto:serusers-bounces@lists.iptel.org] On Behalf Of Aimable Habiyakare
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2006 2:30 PM
To: CM0002@aol.com
Cc: serusers@iptel.org
Subject: RE: [Serusers] Open source GSM/CDMA network

When you put into consideration Software Defined Radio, whereby software and (general hardware) is used to generate radio signals which were being generated by analog integrated circuits, maybe there is a possibility.

Look at what GNU Radio is trying to do.

Together with SER/Asterisk, maybe something can be built.

BTW there is an open source WCDMA software base station already around.

From: serusers-bounces@lists.iptel.org [mailto:serusers-bounces@lists.iptel.org] On Behalf Of CM0002@aol.com
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2006 2:46 PM
To: serusers@iptel.org
Subject: [Serusers] Open source GSM/CDMA network

GSM suppliers working on that already and implementing softswitches in order to increase capacity and lower cost. However GSM is circuit switched - not packet switched (except GPRS) and here is the point cost can't really dropped.

The way it will be more probably is that GSM CDMA might be used in the furture in the suburbans and in metropolitan areas we will see a WIMAX/VOIP scenario. This will result in a hybrid network for at least a transitional period. We already experienced it with AMPS/TDMA to GSM transition.

CDMA (spread spectrum) is almost dead because high cost and leck of roaming capacity. WCDMA/UMTS (spread spectrum 3G) is very expencive and hard to manage (in Europe the launch was delayed by 2 years because hard and software problems).

I recently started with a project (small scale) to setup such WIMAX based networks. The aim is to develop a low cost internet/phone network for rural communities in third world countries. Anybody with routing experience who wants to join me on a professional base is welcome.

Regards Christian