By 2010, almost a quarter of global UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system) shipments will be based on ATCA, according to ABI Research. Yet, ATCA is “in its infancy,” a new ABI report says, with greater adoption pending the arrival of MicroTCA and other related specifications aimed at smaller, cost-conscious vendors.

UMTS is one of several types of 3G networks where equipment providers and carriers are moving toward ATCA, according to ABI.

Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture (AdvancedTCA, or ATCA) defines a standardized architecture for telecommunication hardware aimed at boosting business efficiencies compared to the proprietary telecom equipment designs prevalent today. ATCA is maintained by PICMG (PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturer's Group), with more than 100 companies participating in the ATCA specification effort.

While ATCA provides a vendor-neutral, open, modular hardware standard, Carrier Class Linux has emerged as a complementary open, modular standard on the software side.

According to ABI, Korea was first market to embrace the ATCA standard, led by Korea Telecom. Interest in the specification has “grown significantly” in the last six to twelve months, with Intel, AMCC, Siemens, Huawei, UTStarcom, and Fujitsu all backing the specification, ABI says.

Yet, ATCA compliance is “still in its infancy,” according to ABI's principal analyst of broadband technologies, Michael Arden. Arden believes larger-scale adoption will be driven by additional specifications such as MicroTCA and other “variations for newer technical developments which should appeal to a wider market of smaller, cost-conscious vendors.”

ABI's study “ATCA and the 3G Market” reviews technology considerations and benefits afforded by ATCA to system vendors, component manufacturers, and service providers, forecasting pricing, shipments, and market value of ATCA and related standards in the 3G equipment market (i.e., those that offer Internet access at broadband-like speeds of 1.5Mbps or greater).

 
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