[Vision2020] Raspberry Pi Substitutes A 30-Foot GSM Base Station With A Working Mobile Network

[Kenneth Marcy]

Interesting Cost-Saving Technology News

http://techcrunch.com/2012/12/21/raspberry-pi-used-to-replace-a-30-foot-gsm-base-station-and-create-a-working-mobile-network/ 


Raspberry Pi Used To Replace A 30-Foot GSM Base Station And Create A 
Working Mobile Network

Friday, December 21st, 2012
<http://techcrunch.com/2012/12/21/raspberry-pi-used-to-replace-a-30-foot-gsm-base-station-and-create-a-working-mobile-network/#comment-box>
A Cambridge, U.K.-based consulting firm has managed to use the open 
source Raspberry Pi computer to replicate the functions normally 
performed by a 30-foot GSM cellular basestation to create a fully 
functional mobile network. Using two open source software programs, and 
a bit of off-the-shelf hardware kit DIY enthusiasts can get their hands 
on fairly easily, PA Consulting rolled their own mobile phone service 
<http://www.newelectronics.co.uk/electronics-news/basestation-created-on-raspberry-pi/46960/>.

The system works by routing calls similar to the way they'd be handled 
by Skype, thanks to an open source program called FreeSWITCH, which also 
enables SMS communication and phones on the network to connect to the 
Internet. All of it had to be built in a radio sealed room, to avoid 
stepping on any spectrum toes and thereby breaking laws. The whole point 
of the project was just to prove that it could be done: a 
30-foot, extremely expensive piece of vital mobile network 
infrastructure could be more or less replaced with a 3-inch Raspberry 
Pi, at least in terms of providing an actual, functioning mobile phone 
network. That bodes extremely well for the future of low-cost 
infrastructure, and is in keeping with the Raspberry Pi foundation's 
goals of delivering affordable, accessible solutions to previously 
expensive problems.


Ken

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