Flattening the Cellular Core Network

Abstract

OpenBTS is a GSM network stack designed to use an all-VoIP core network, based entirely on open standards and distributed under GPL. Through OpenBTS, GSM handsets appear to a VoIP core network as SIP endpoints and the VoIP core network appears to the handsets as a normal-looking GSM carrier. One of the goals of the project is to eliminate the need for a traditional GSM core network, lowering the cost of entry into the cellular market by about a a factor of ten for small operators and opening entirely new application areas. In this presentation, project co-founder David Burgess will describe the history of the project, the organization of OpenBTS networks and recent pilot installations with real users.